South Florida elected officials’ travel budgets

Here’s a look at some other cities’ and county spending for trips. Politicians often say they take advantage of training courses, sometimes offered out-of-state. The budgets vary. Broward County commissioners: Each of the nine commissioners receives $3,540 annually for travel. Palm Beach County commissioners: Each of the seven districts is budgeted $24,483 for operating expenses, including travel, mileage, office supplies, books and subscriptions. It’s used for the district commissioner and staff. Boca Raton: $10,000 total budget. Boynton Beach: $14,350 total budget. Coconut Creek: $16,000 total budget. Coral Springs: Each of the five commission members is allocated $5,500 each for travel. There is also a $10,000 fund for “not anticipated” travel, which could include lobbying efforts to Tallahassee or Washington, D.C. Cooper City: Each of the five members of the commission has $3,000 allotted for travel expenses. Dania Beach: $15,500 total budget. Davie: $7,000 total budget. Council members also may dip into their $3,000 individual expense accounts for travel. Deerfield Beach: $8,000 total budget. Delray Beach: $4,100 total budget. Fort Lauderdale: $15,700 budget for the four commissioners, mayor and staff to travel. The city is expecting to spend more than $17,000 this year and will need to transfer money from a different pool to make up the difference. Hallandale Beach: A $50,000 budget. Each of the five commission members is allotted $10,000. If they don’t spend the money, they can keep it. The commission also agreed this year to allocate an extra $14,000 to the vice mayor to go to a Harvard program. Hollywood: $15,000 total travel and training budget. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: $4,500 total budget. Lauderdale Lakes: Each of the five members on the commission is allotted $5,000 for travel and expenses, and those chosen to represent the city at organizational meetings have a $6,500 budget. Lauderhill: Each of the five members on the commission requests funding based on anticipated travel. This year’s allocation ranges from $6,500 to $11,000 each. Lighthouse Point: No taxpayer dollars set aside for travel. Margate: $30,000 budget. Each of the five commissioners may spend up to $6,000. On Monday night, the commission agreed next year it will limit it to $5,000. Miramar: $44,000 budget. The mayor may spend $17,600, each of the four commissioners may spend $6,600. North Lauderdale: $8,000 total budget. Oakland Park: The commission shares a $5,000 travel budget. Yet the commission generally spends less: It spent $2,372.12 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,089.24 in fiscal year 2015. Parkland: A $2,500 total budget. Pembroke Park: $17,000 total budget. Commissioners must vote before anyone can dip into the fund. Pembroke Pines: $24,000 total budget. Plantation: No taxpayer dollars set aside for travel. Pompano Beach: $32,720 total budget for travel and memberships. Elected officials “rarely ever travel and the money is still there at the end of the year,” said city spokeswoman Sandra King. Southwest Ranches: $4,100 total budget. Sunrise: $33,040 total budget. Weston: Commissioners share a $2,500 budget for the cost of the training programs, and share another $45,000 – along with staff — for the travel associated with it. West Palm Beach: The mayor has a travel budget of $23,500; The commission has an $18,000 travel budget. Wilton Manors: $18,000 total budget.