By Charlene Gatt
MARIBYRNONG councillors have racked up nearly $27,000 in expenses in the last quarter.
Councillor expenses for April to June this year shows councillors Sel Sanli and Martin Zakharov shelled out $5900 each to complete a company directors course.
Fellow councillors Catherine Cumming, Dina Lynch and Michael Clarke plus mayor Sarah Carter completed the course earlier this year.
Cr Sanli rang up $7926 to have the biggest expenses bill, including a further $566 to gain membership to the Australian Institute of Company Directors, plus more than $1000 on a councillor development weekend.
Cr Zakharov was the next biggest, with his $7571 bill covering a Municipal Association of Victoria conference, a $6000 Melbourne Planning Summit and mobile phone, taxi and Myki charges.
Fellow councillors Carter ($5795), Catherine Cumming ($3262), John Cumming ($1443), Clarke ($647) and Lynch ($177) lodged more modest expenses on childcare, phone bills and summits.
The council detailed councillors’ expenses at last week’s ordinary council meeting.
Under section 74 A and 74 B of the Local Government Act, councillors are paid an annual allowance of $20,200 each year and can also claim on any money spent while undertaking their duties as councillors.
The mayor’s annual allowance is $62,500.
Councillors are also provided with a home computer, email and internet connection, fax machine and Blackberry for the duration of their term in office.
Councillors’ expenses are released quarterly. Residents can view a breakdown of expenses at www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
