Compost, popcorn machines & more: Councillors declare 2010 expenses

Compost, office renovations and even a popcorn machine are among the list of items that Toronto’s city councillors expensed in 2010.

Records of the expenses were made public Monday and show that Toronto’s city councillors claimed nearly $1.6 million in office budget expenses last year. This is down from around $1.8 million in 2009.

Incumbent councillors had an office budget of $50,445. New councillors, who started in December following the autumn municipal election, received 1/12th of the allocation or $4,203.75 for the month.

Among the more eye-raising claims was the $5,700 for extra compost loads by Councillor Cesar Palacio of Ward 17, Davenport. Palacio did not return calls for comment on his spending.

Former budget chief and Ward 33 Don Valley East Councillor Shelley Carroll spent $7,100 on a renovation to her City Hall office.

Former Ward 18 Davenport Councillor Adam Giambrone — who recently came under fire for his spending as TTC chair — spent $9,686.29 to attend transit conferences in Rio de Janeiro, Vienna, Madrid and Milan. In February, the TTC said it planned to ask him to repay more than $3,000 he overspent on his budget while in office.

Many councillors and politicians stretched their budgets to the limit while others pinched every penny. Some of the report’s findings:

• Former Mayor David Miller’s office spent $171,485.24 in 2010, including $90,553.23 in consulting services.

• After being sworn in Dec. 7, Mayor Rob Ford’s office spent $918.99 on phone and printing, postage and courier services, along with office equipment and supplies.

• The highest spender was Councillor Ron Moeser of Ward 44 Scarborough East. He spent $50,266.38, including $17,000 in rent for his constituency office.

• Ward 28, Toronto Centre-Rosedale Councillor Pam McConnell’s expenses totalled $50,229.29. Almost half of this went to cover an over-expenditure of staff salaries.

• Ward 21, St. Paul’s Councillor Joe Mihevc expensed a popcorn machine as part of his $42,519.38 worth of expenses.

• Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Karen Stintz billed the city for $41,918.23, including two BlackBerry smartphones..

• There were several very thrifty councillors. Ward 2, Etobicoke North Councillor Doug Ford filed no expenses, as did his brother Rob when he was still a sitting councillor.

• Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Josh Colle spent only $468.77 on printing, postage and courier services.

• Ward 32, Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon spent $522.54 on printing, postage and courier services, along with office supplies.

For the full list of councillor expenses, click here.