Surrey taxpayers paid about $50,000 more for their city council last year due to a combination of higher wages and more expenses.
A corporate report to council Monday shows it cost $727,804 to pay for the eight councillors and the mayor in 2010, up from the $679,923 the year before.
Part of that is due to cost-of-living increases: the mayor now earns $112,550 (up $3,500) and council receives about $62,000 (up $2,000).
The top spender on council in 2010 was Coun. Barinder Rasode, who rang up $17,569 in costs. Out-of-town expenses accounted for $7,358 of that, while $2,072 was for local events. Consultants services ($2,000), communications ($4,342) and car allowance ($1,797) made up the rest of the tab.
As in the year prior, Rasode was just ahead of Coun. Marvin Hunt, who billed the city $17,049. The bulk of that was for out-of-town conferences ($11,356), with just $543 going to local events. Hunt spent $3,003 on communications and rang up $2,147 in car allowance.
Coming in behind Hunt was Coun. Judy Villenueve at $14,493, Coun. Linda Hepner ($12,520), Coun. Mary Martin ($12,490), Mayor Dianne Watts ($12,415), Coun. Tom Gill ($11,923), Coun. Bob Bose ($9,022) and Coun. Barbara Steele ($8,498).
Section 168 of the Community Charter requires the release of council expenditures at least once a year.