What are the expenditure caps for local government elections?
There are eight levels of expenditure caps based on the number of enrolled electors in a local government area or ward.
Any electoral expenditure incurred by a party for its endorsed candidate or group must not exceed the candidate or group’s expenditure cap when combined with any other electoral expenditure incurred by the candidate or group. There are also other aggregation rules.
View the ependiture caps for each local government area for the 2024 Local Government elections.
View the expenditure caps for the 2024 NSW Local Government by-elections.
Applicable caps that apply to electoral expenditure incurred for local government elections held from 15 September 2024
Number of enrolled electors for a local government area or ward |
Non-mayoral candidates (and groups that do not include mayoral candidates) |
Mayoral candidates in undivided areas (and groups that include mayoral candidates) |
Third-party campaigners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5,000 | $7,700 | $9,625 | $2,570 |
| 5,001 – 10,000 | $12,800 | $16,000 | $4,270 |
| 10,001 – 20,000 | $23,000 | $28,750 | $7,670 |
| 20,001 – 30,000 | $31,900 | $39,875 | $10,640 |
| 30,001 – 50,000 | $45,900 | $57,375 | $15,300 |
| 50,001 – 75,000 | $58,600 | $73,250 | $19,540 |
| 75,001 – 125,000 | $80,900 | $101,125 | $26,970 |
| 125,001 or more | $91,700 | $114,625 | $30,570 |
Caps for mayoral candidates in areas divided into wards
The cap for a candidate for mayor (or a group that includes a candidate for mayor) in a local government area that is divided into wards is equal to:
100 per cent of the cap for a non-mayoral candidate in a ward of the area plus 25 per cent of the non-mayoral candidate cap in each of the other wards of the area.
Example: if an area has four wards and the expenditure cap for a non-mayoral candidate in a ward is $11,000, the expenditure cap for a mayoral candidate in that area is $11,000 (ward 1) + $2,750 (ward 2) + $2,750 (ward 3) + $2,750 (ward 4) = $19,250.
Caps for candidates running for mayor and councillor at the same time
The cap for a candidate running for mayor and councillor at the same election is the applicable cap for a mayoral candidate.
Determination of number of enrolled electors
The expenditure caps applicable to a local government area or ward are based on the number of enrolled electors in that area or ward.
For the 2024 Local Government election, the number of enrolled electors was determined as at 14 September 2023.
The NSW Electoral Commission is required to publish on its website the details of the enrolled electors and applicable caps and notify registered candidates, groups and third-party campaigners of the applicable caps.