Since last year’s municipal election, two members of Woolwich’s township council have been taken to court over issues with their campaign expenses.

A third admitted that he didn’t disclose donations of election signs and brochures, but did not have to explain those actions in front of a judge.

The total bill to the township for those cases, councillors were told Tuesday, stands at $53,300.

That figure includes more than $17,000 in legal costs, more than $15,000 spent auditing the financial statements filed by Coun. Scott Hahn, and more than $13,000 in staff time.

Summoning six hearings of the Municipal Elections Compliance Audit Committee – the body which deals with all such complaints in Waterloo Region – contributed $6,750 toward the total.

All of that money was spent to determine exactly what errors had been made on the financial statements of Mayor Sandy Shantz, Coun. Mark Bauman, and Hahn.

Shantz was found to have filed unaudited statements, even though the amount donated to her campaign meant an audit was mandatory.

Bauman didn’t file any statements, believing it was unnecessary as he was acclaimed a councillor without any challengers running against him.

Both those cases ended up in court, where rulings were made that neither of their errors were serious enough for them to be removed from office.

Hahn was found to have breached four sections of the legislation governing election finances, but was not taken to court over those matters.

Shantz’s filings have been challenged persistently by Elmira resident Alan Marshall, who said Tuesday that the $53,300 total cost was due to “the negligence or the laziness of half the council.”