Port Moody taxpayers shelled out nearly a quarter of a million dollars last year for their politicians' salaries and expenses.
The financial disclosures, which the city is expected to post on its website tonight (Tuesday), show Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay earned $73,437 last year and charged $3,758 in auto expenses and costs for attending four conferences.
Clay, who bought an electric car last year, is permitted to claim for the wear and tear on his vehicle and the kilometres driven to do municipal business, a city spokesperson said Monday.
The report also shows the six councillors each received $25,423 in pay - one third of which is tax-free - but their expenses vary.
Coun. Diana Dilworth submitted the highest amount at $2,182 for mileage and parking fees ($396) and to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) national conference and trade show in Vancouver from May 31 to June 3 ($1,785). Dilworth's bill was more than double other PoMo delegates at the FCM convention as she was the only council member who stayed at a hotel, which cost the city $858 on top of the $735 registration fee (a call to Dilworth was not returned by The Tri-City News' deadline yesterday).
Coun. Bob Elliott had the second-highest expense claim, totalling $2,104 for auto ($85) plus attendance at FCM ($682), the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) convention in Harrison Hot Springs ($806) and the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver ($530).
Following Elliott's expenses are councillors Zoe Royer ($1,759); Gerry Nuttall ($1,660); Rick Glumac ($1,637); and Rosemary Small ($1,609).
A city spokesperson said staff are investigating having council members' expenses available on the website on a monthly basis, starting this summer.
The 2013 financial disclosures for Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam councils are set to come out by next month.
