AN analysis of councillors’ claimed expenses in the previous 2012-16 council term found Kingston councillors are the lowest spenders compared to neighbouring Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors.
Kingston’s nine councillors, including seven re-elected to council at 22 October council elections, collectively claimed $101,807 for expenses over four years compared to $205,329 for nine councillors at Frankston Council and a whopping $616,712 at Mornington Peninsula Shire for 11 councillors.
Kingston and Frankston councils publish councillors’ expenses figures in council’s annual report each year.
Mornington Peninsula Shire only began publishing councillors’ expenses in its annual report in 2014-15, the first financial year it was forced to make expenses public after a legislative change by the state government.
Kingston Council’s 2015-16 annual report listed individual councillors’ annual remuneration as $29,943. The elected representatives are also paid superannuation at a 9.5 per cent rate.
Councillors can claim expenses for telecommunications costs, meals, drinks and parking when on council business and travel expenses.
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors, including eight newly-elected councillors, this month agreed to review the shire’s councillor expenses policy.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 23 November 2016
