Ratepayers to keep track of councillors’ bottom line

CAMPASPE Shire councillors expenses will now be readily available to the public on a more frequent basis.

The quarterly expenses report for each councillor will now be available through the council’s website.

‘‘It demonstrates we are committed to openness and transparency,’’ Cr Leigh Wilson said.

‘‘I am quite proud of my expenses and would be more than happy to sit down with anyone to have a chat about them.

‘‘I think it is great to report the expenses and gives the public an understanding of what the money is going towards.

‘‘It is not like we haven’t been making our expenses public, we are just doing it more frequently now.

‘‘The information is there — front and centre.’’

To aid understanding of the nature of councillor expenses, the three monthly report will be broken down into several categories including travel, telephone, training and conferences, accommodation and reimbursement of expenses.