Expenses to go on display

CITY of Casey ratepayers will now have full access to the costs associated with all councillors’ and officers’ travel and education expenses.
A training, education and promotion register will be put on Casey’s website listing all state, interstate and overseas travel undertaken by councillors and officers.
Councillor Steve Beardon moved the motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Ratepayers have footed the bill for more than $45,000 in 2007 to pay for several trips by Casey staff and councillors.
More than $56,000 was spent on interstate and overseas travel in 2006.
Each councillor gets $5000 a year to spend on training and education, including attending conferences.
Once this is used up, councillors can pay out of their own pocket or the council may resolve to fund the gap.
Councillor Wayne Smith said he was happy for residents to see his travel expenses as it showed he was educating himself in a attempt to be a better councillor.
Visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/travelregister/calendar.asp to view the full register.