GADSDEN, Ala. — The Gadsden City Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution asking the Etowah County legislative delegation to sponsor a local bill that would raise qualifying fees for municipal candidates, a change city officials said is intended to reduce the cost of running municipal elections.

The resolution asks for a local bill to allow mayoral candidates to pay up to $500 to qualify and city council and school board candidates to pay up to $200. City staff told council members the change is intended to offset election costs the city bears for municipal contests that sometimes coincide with county or statewide ballots.

City officials cited figures from the city clerk's office showing the most recent municipal election (mayor, council and school board races with a general election and runoff) cost roughly $94,000 to $95,000 to administer. Council members noted the current qualifying fees have not been updated in decades and described the proposal as aligning Gadsden with qualifying fees used by many other municipalities.

Council vote: The chair called for a motion to adopt the resolution; the motion carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

What's next: The resolution is a request to the Etowah County legislative delegation rather than a change enacted by the council. The council chair said the matter will be forwarded to the county delegation for consideration as a local bill. No change in qualifying fees takes effect until the county delegation acts and any required state or local procedures are completed.

Officials and council members emphasized the resolution is intended to defray city election costs rather than to restrict access to office; no language raising civil penalties or changing ballot access was adopted as part of the resolution.