AN OVERHAUL of the way the mayor is elected in Wagga could be on the horizon as a city councillor looks to shift the power to the people.
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Wagga councillor Paul Funnell intends to initiate a notice of motion at Monday night's council meeting, which calls for a constitutional referendum at the next local government elections, asking voters if they want to opt for a popularly elected mayor system.
As it stands, the Wagga mayor is elected by the councillors for a two-year term. A popularly elected system, which is currently used in Griffith, would extend the term to four years and be decided by the residents at each election.
"I am in ongoing receipt of requests from members of the public requesting that they be given the opportunity to choose their own community leaders regarding who should be the mayor of the city," Cr Funnell said.
"It is for this reason that this report requests that council put forward the question, do you (the elector) support a popularly elected Mayor, in the format of a referendum at the next council elections."
The NSW Electoral Commission advised a constitutional referendum held in conjunction with the council elections in 2021 would increase the cost of the elections by about $47,000, which Cr Funnell said will be money "well-spent" to obtain a definite answer.
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"What price do you put on democracy? What price do you put on people having the right to choose," he said.
The notice of motion will be voted on by the city's councillors at Monday night's council meeting.