The fee for town council candidates will rise from $5 to $15 and the fee for mayoral candidates will increase from $5 to $50.

The higher fees will help to reduce costs, albeit in a very small way, during a very tight budget year, town officials said.

Morrisville must reimburse Wake County for the costs of its local elections, a cost which the county forecasts could double what the town paid last year.

The county estimates Morrisville's 2011 elections could cost about $13,000. The town spent $5,276 on its 2009 election.

Morrisville previously offered the best deal for candidates in Wake County and the minimum filing fee allowable by the state. The most the town could have charged is 1 percent of salary for the elected position, which would have been $94 for council candidates and $115 mayoral hopefuls.

While they didn't go that high, Mayor Holcombe, and the majority of council, thought fees should be higher than $5.

"I think those running for mayor should make a little bit more of an investment," Holcombe said.

Council member Margaret Broadwell worried that the fee hike could discourage potential candidates.

"If you have a higher fee, you'll have fewer people run," Broadwell said "I'd like to make it easier for more people to participate in their government."

In other news, the town announced a budget work session for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.