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The cost of running the by-election after Dunedin’s former mayor and councillor Jules Radich died topped $375,000.
Jo Galer was elected to the Dunedin City Council in May after Mr Radich died while in office, in January.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the final cost of the by-election was $375,756.65.
‘‘As part of the by-election process, we used Taskforce Green to help with the clearance of postal bins and the return of voting papers — saving about $63,000.’’
The council previously said the by-election costs were unbudgeted.
Legislation required a by-election be held, although some candidates and councillors questioned whether it was necessary as Mr Radich died within three months of last year’s election.
Meanwhile, by-election expense returns show the fourteen candidates collectively spent $69,168.94 on their campaigns — an average of about $4940 per person.
All returns were uploaded to the Dunedin City Council’s website earlier this week.
Cr Galer recorded the highest spend, declaring expenses of $15,425.93.
Former councillor Bill Acklin recorded a spend of $3142.74, alongside a donation worth $2219.50 from Cr Brent Weatherall and his wife Jo, described as ‘‘advertising and signage’’.
Cr Weatherall said he considered Mr Acklin a personal friend and a good councillor — he was ‘‘upset for him’’ when Mr Acklin was not re-elected in October’s election.
‘‘I thought I’d give him a hand — basically, that’s it,’’ Cr Weatherall said.
‘‘I could have tried to hide it or given some money ... through a back door or something, I don’t know, but I’ve got nothing to hide.
‘‘I would have really enjoyed it if he had got back on to council.
‘‘Anyway, that’s democracy and you can do nothing about that.’’
Another former councillor, Andrew Whiley, recorded a spend of $13,810.10, largely offset by 17 donations totalling $11,100.
Candidate Lync Aronsen declared expenses of $2110.49 and nine donations totalling $999.72.
Several candidates included the cost of the $200 nomination fee in their returns, though it is not considered an electoral expense.
The fee was the only expense candidate Gordon Dickson recorded.
Other candidates were Carmen Houlahan (recording expenses of $7895.95), Aaron Hawkins ($6948.83), Conrad Stedman ($10,431.45), Lianna MacFarlane ($4342.25), Garreth Ottley ($450), Angus Mackay ($1876.23), Pamela Taylor ($1489.25), Richard Knights ($882.88) and Angela McErlane ($163.09)
In Dunedin, a total spending limit of $55,000 applies to mayoral and council candidates in the three months before an election — any earlier spending is only required to be recorded if it covers goods or services used during the campaign period.
Donations of more than $1500 must be declared.