Whether it costs a dollar or a dime - a number of newly-elected Tauranga City Council councillors are proving it takes more than just a fistful of money to gather the votes.

This year's local body election spending results posted on Tauranga City Council's website show many candidates who spent little gathered the votes.

In 2013 spending by candidates ranged from $24,862, by now Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, to $0 by unsuccessful mayoral candidate Hori Leaming.

Of the newly elected candidates, Mount Maunganui/Papamoa ward councillors Clayton Mitchell and Steve Morris, spent the most behind Kelvin Clout, devoting $14,276 and $11,444 respectively to their campaigns.

A total of $14,402 was donated to Clayton's campaign through donations from various businesses including his two Mount Maunganui bars Ivory and Prestige Cabaret.

And for candidates every vote counted in this year's October 12 elections with a decline in voter turnout in Tauranga. Of the 84,818 enrolled to vote only 37.7 per cent, or 32,037 voters, voted. This was down on the 43.64 per cent in 2010.

Councillor John Robson was successful despite a smaller $112.70 spend on his ‘John Robson for TCC' website.

'I suppose I would say it just goes to show I'm very prudent with money,” says John.

'The key thing for me is I did it to make a point that I'm not beholden to the media for my position.

'It gives hope to people who want to be on council that you don't need $20,000. It gives hope to people who are genuinely independent that you don't need friends to help you find $20,000.”

He admits to spending a 'miniscule” amount of money to prove a point that candidates don't need to spend big on advertising.

'I was told I would not get in, and I had a lot of people tell me that.”

Returning councillors Rick Curach, Bill Grainger and Catherine Stewart, spent various amounts on their campaigns with Catherine spending the least of the three with $1564 and Rick the most with $15,440.

In a bid to retain his mayoral portfolio, Stuart Crosby also upped his election spending from $12,444.88 in 2010 to $18,765 this year.

Under election advertising rules, all candidates must file an expenditure report by December 12 – which is 55 days after the local body elections closed. Candidate's various expenses relate to the three-month period from July 12 to October 12.

The raft of former councillors voted out in the major council reshuffle spent between $19,581 and $5154.

Former Mount/Papamoa ward councillors Wayne Moultrie spent just over $19,000 and former Deputy Mayor David Stewart spent $5145 while Murray Guy spent $9701.

Each candidate is required to keep a record of all campaign expenses and turn in all receipts, invoices and other supporting documents.

Once returned, the forms become a public document and can be inspected for a period of seven years, where people can lodge an official complaint with police who then investigate the accusation.

Read the full list of councillor claim forms posted to the Tauranga City Council website here.