Ian Paton racked up the largest expense claim of any Delta councillor in 2011, according to the annual council remuneration and expenses report released last week.
Between January and December 2011, Paton claimed $8,847. That's more than second-place spender Heather King ($5,959), a former councillor who lost her bid for the mayor's seat in the November civic election, and third-place Coun. Scott Hamilton ($5,784).
Paton explained that in 2011 he travelled to a number of conferences including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Halifax, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland Local Government Association in Whistler. In September, he accompanied Mayor Lois Jackson and Delta CAO George Harvie on a four-day business trip to Ottawa.
Mayor Jackson claimed $3,788 in expenses in 2011, and $10,428 in expenses for the Delta Police Board.
New councillors elected in the November local government election Sylvia Bishop and Jeannie Kanakos both filed zero expenses for 2011.
Meanwhile, former Coun. Anne Peterson spent $5,750 in 2011, Coun. Bruce McDonald spent $5,277 and Coun. Robert Campbell claimed $3,568 in expenses.