It cost Surrey taxpayers a bit more for their city council last year, due to a combination of a small wage increase and higher expenses.

Financial figures released this week show it cost $650,875 for city council last year, up from $624,400 in 2007.

Part of that is because of an incremental cost-of-living increase for mayor and council. Mayor Dianne Watts now earns about $105,000 annually, while city councillors each make about $58,000.

Expenses incurred by city councillors also inched up slightly last year.

Former Coun. Judy Higginbotham was the biggest spender, ringing up $14,198 – almost $2,000 more than the year prior.

Placing a close second was Coun. Marvin Hunt, who charged $13,652 in expenses last year, up more than $4,000 from the year prior. As council’s representative for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Hunt incurred several charges for attending conventions across the country.

The rest of council spending fell well back, with Coun. Barbara Steele, charging $9,567 to her civic account, and Watts ringing up $8,262 (which represented a $3,000 drop from the year prior, the largest decrease on council this year).

Coun. Judy Villeneuve came in at $6,041, while Coun. Tom Gill charged $6,039. Coun. Linda Hepner rang up $6,020 and Coun. Bob Bose expensed $5,455. Coun. Mary Martin charged $4,375 to the city expense accounts.

The lowest spender of all was newly elected Coun. Barinder Rasode, who charged $20 to her civic account.

Section 168 of the Community Charter requires the release of council expenditures at least once a year.

kidiakiw@surreyleader.com