Councillor allowances reduces over terms
Individual councillor expense claims varied from one extreme to another over the past four years but overall, their total claims dropped by more than $25,000 by the end of their term.
In total, councillors claimed more than $200,000 worth of expenses over the past four years, on top of their allocated mayoral and councillor allowances.
Cr Debbie Brown, who was not re-elected at October’s election, proved the most expensive councillor with $83,137 worth of claims.
Re-elected east ward councillor Peter Kostos proved the cheapest on record, claiming only $2640.
Cr Kostos’ total claims represented a three year term, given he was elected via a countback in July 2013 following Cr Bill Harrington’s death.
However, he still had the lowest average per annum costs, averaging $880 per year. Cr Terry Williamson was the next lowest average per year at $1287.
Councillors lodged expense claims for a variety of costs including travel, conferences and seminars, meetings and functions, and communication facilities and equipment.
Crs Williamson and Gerard Murphy kept their claims to an absolute minimum, claiming only i-pad and mobile telephone costs.
Crs Joe Gauci and Peter Kostos also were at the lower end of the scale, claiming communication costs and minimal conference and seminar costs.
Travelling expenses were the biggest claim, particularly for Crs Brown and Balfour.
Throughout their four year terms, Cr Brown claimed $50,738 in travelling expenses while Cr Balfour claimed $36,398.
Four councillors chose not to claim any travel expenses including Crs Murray Cook, Williamson, Murphy and Kostos.
Some councillors chose to attend more conferences, seminars and training than others.
Cr Mikaela Power had the largest training bill of $9650.
The year she was mayor, Cr Brown claimed $9160 in conference expenses compared to the other two mayors during the term – Cr Cook $7777 for two mayoral years and Cr Gauci $2282.
Cr Jones’ conference and seminars bill was the highest, totalling $10,378 during her term.
Across the board, councillors claimed a total of $42,466 for the 2015/16 year which was well down on their previous two full financial years of $68,298 in 2013/14 and $63,225 in 2014/15.
There was a steady increase in mayoral and councillor allowances throughout the term.
Mayoral allowances increased from $69,325 to $74,655 while councillor allowances increased from $22,405 per year to $24,127.
However, the allowances paid to councillors differed to what was printed in the annual reports each year.
The annual report for the 2015/16 year showed councillors received $24,127 but they received $25,727 according to the register of expenses.
Similarly, the 2014/15 report stated the adopted councillor allowance was $22,965 but councillors received $25,511; and in 2013/14 the annual report stated the annual allowance was $22,965 but they received $25,005.
Finance manager Malcolm Lewis said the annual report was based on accrual and the register was based on cash payments.
Mr Lewis said this meant the annual report represented expenses incurred for the period July 1 to June 30.
“By contrast the register reflects actual payments, made in advance, during the year.
“The payments in the councillors’ allowance register will be for a period that extends beyond 30 June, but also commences after 1 July - that is still 12 months,” Mr Lewis said. The late Peter Marshall, a former chaplain of the United States Senate, delivered a famous sermon called in which he told the tale of “a certain town (that) grew up at the foot of a mountain range”. Of course, that description could easily fit many towns in this hilly electorate of McMillan. Equally, the eponymous Keeper could be any number of locals I have met for the man was selfless, community-minded and sought no reward except the satisfaction of a job well done. The wonderful Keeper “patrolled the hills and wherever he found a spring he cleaned its brown pool of silt and fallen leaves, of mud and mould, and he took away from the spring all foreign matter so that the water which bubbled up through the sand ran down clean and cold and pure”. Despite his battles with the heavy hand of Bureaucracy, the Keeper triumphed, proving himself vital to the health of the town, drawing people from far and wide to see the crystal waters. This Christmas I want to celebrate all the “Keepers” of McMillan - whether CFA members, surf life savers, police, ambulance officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, Salvos, volunteers, carers, parents, grandparents and anyone else who puts others before themselves. I believe there is a little Keeper in all of us. Let’s embrace that spirit.