Ratepayers will foot the $64,000 bill for the 2008 Cabonne Council election, with a State Government decision to make councils pay more for elections leaving some with a shortfall.

Councils will be forced to pay the NSW Electoral Commission up to four times more than they did in 2004.

Cabonne Council this week moved to set aside an additional $20,000 towards the 2008/09 budget for the election.

Cabonne Mayor John Farr said it was an example of the State Government acting as "standover merchants".

"The cost is absolutely ridiculous. It's run very similar to a state or federal election and it's very formal," he said.

The Electoral Commission charges councils to pay for poll workers, ballot papers and the hire of polling booths.

The Local Government and Shires Association has called on the State Government to allow councils to run their own elections.

Cr Farr agreed that was a sensible option.

"In the past they could basically be run by one person and it was much cheaper. It all comes out of ratepayers' funds," he said.

The cost estimated by the Electoral Commission is based on 9045 voters in Cabonne, however, that figure does not take into account costs associated with mayoral elections, referendums, polls or uncontested wards.