Candidates in next year's municipal election in Ritchot might get to spend more on their campaign than in past elections.

Currently, head of council candidates may spend up to $4,000 while councillor hopefuls can spend as much as $2,000. Mayor Chris Ewen has suggested doubling those limits.

"I spent alone on the signage up to twenty-five hundred dollars which is just a very costly thing when you are running for a whole municipality," he says.

But some councillors have expressed concern with raising limits too high. Janine Boulanger says her concern is that it could separate the rich from the poor in an election campaign. Shane Pelletier says with enough financial backing, a candidate could win an election simply by having a campaign sign on every property.

Ewen says those are valid points. But at the same time, says you don't need to spend money to win an election.

"I was also fortunate enough to work hard and door knock which costs absolutely nothing," he says. "You don't always have to spend money to win an election."

While council is leaning towards an increase, it is not to the same level that Ewen has suggested. If approved, the head of council will be able to spend as much as $5,000, while councillor candidates could spend $2,500.

Council has also discussed the idea of having the municipality offer incentives for those who run for council.

"It's always hard to find candidates, so maybe adding an incentive would be a great thing to do," he says. "But there's no decision on it yet."

The next municipal election is October 24, 2018.