FOUR City of Ballarat councillors exceeded their annual expenditure budgets in the last financial year.
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The expenses of all nine councillors were posted to the council’s website across four categories and councillors Amy Johnson, Des Hudson and Vicki Coltman exceeded their annual $11,500 budget.
Cr Johnson racked up $16,041, followed by Cr Hudson with $15,653 and Cr Coltman with a total of $13,810.
Former mayor Joshua Morris also exceeded his budget of $13,542 by almost $4200.
The councillors’ expense figures released to the public are from June 2013 to June 2014.
However, the combined total of all councillors was $100,703 which was still below the $107,000 allocated in the council’s budget in the last financial year.
Cr Hudson’s most expensive claim was $6400 in training and development during the April to June quarter this year.
Cr Hudson said costs were associated with his Diploma of Local Government which was being delivered by BRACE education.
Cr Johnson blew her budget by more than $4541 with her most costly expense $6995, also in training and development.
Cr Morris had the highest bill for ‘training and development’ which hit $10,026.
Cr Coltman had the most expensive bill for ‘functions and memberships’ ($7256).
Cr Peter Innes claimed the most on ‘communications’ ($1787) and Cr Hudson had the highest bill for ‘travel’ ($5422).
Cr Coltman represents more than 16 different committees and groups in her role as a councillor which she said often required her attendance at a high portion of meetings and events in regional Victoria.
Cr Morris and Cr Johnson also completed a more than $6000 company directors’ course, which educated councillors on the effective running and governance of boards.
Cr Belinda Coates claimed the lowest amount of expenses of all the councillors in the last financial year. Her bill totalled $6886 of the $11,500 allocated to her.
melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au