The tender to build Masterton's new $7.2 million recreation centre might be awarded to sole tenderer Mainzeal if Mayor Bob Francis can use a casting vote next week.

But confusion reigns over whether new legislation abolishes casting votes for chairpersons. The legislation says they are abolished, but makes that subject to councils' standing orders.

Casting votes are a hot topic in Masterton, after Mr Francis used his last week to defeat a motion that would have delayed the town's proposed recreation centre for a year in a bid to bring annual running costs down from $900,000 to $600,000.