(March 13, 2004, updated March 15) -- LBReport.com posts below taxpayer costs -- as budgeted and actually spent -- for the offices of LB Councilmembers and the Mayor.

The data are in documents disclosed in response to a state freedom of information (Public Records Act) request by soon-to-be-former LB resident Traci Wilson-Kleekamp. Data are sourced to computer print outs for FY 02-03 (Oct. 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2003) for the offices of Mayor and LB's nine Councilmebers.

We ranked Council offices by sums expended. We also included comparisons with budgeted and actual spending for the last two years. (Caveat: FY 01-02 data for districts 7 and 9 reflect roughly 9.5 months under prior Councilmembers).

LB Councilmembers and the Mayor decide how much they want to spend to run their offices, then vote to give themselves this amount when they adopt the city's annual spending budget. Although Councilmembers' salaries are the same, the amount of taxpayer resources they consume to run their offices varies.

Yes, different Council offices have different expenses reflecting different needs. However, some Council perks have persisted nearly across the board despite public criticism (including in City Hall's 2003 "Voice Your Choice" survey). As LBReport.com first reported last year, Councilmembers take either a flat auto allowance for costs of driving on city business (or can seek reimbursement at a certain amount per mile)...or drive a taxpayer funded car from the city's fleet. This has continued for eight of nine Councilmembers for all or part of FY 02-03.

During FY 02-03, four Councilmembers used a city fleet car for all or part of that fiscal year (Lowenthal, Baker, Richardson, Webb and the Mayor); four took the mileage allowance (Colonna, Kell, Uranga & Lerch); one (Carroll) didn't take a car or an auto allowance, but his office staffer(s) received mileage reimbursement.

[update March 15: LBReport.com has learned that Councilmembers Webb and Richardson have given up their city fleet cars in the FY 03-04 budget.]

[LBReport.com comment: We believe the public has a right to know what Councilmembers spend to run their offices (money which won't be used to fix potholes or provide police). However in our view, the bigger issue is the Council's continued use of potentially deadly one-time resources to cover ongoing spending. Doing this effectively camouflages the real magnitude of the hole they're digging for taxpayers...and the pain they will inflict to deal with it after the upcoming Council elections.

The Council used similar camouflage two years ago, ignoring bad deficit news until after the election when incumbents were returned to office. This time, the public knows or should know that what's happened. They know about the Council's vote that ballooned city employee pensions (July 02). They know City Hall only gave LBPD and LBFD contracts that last until the end of June 04.

In that sense, we consider the numbers below illustrative but not comprehensive.]

Council & Mayor Office Spending, Oct 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2003

Ranked by funds expended (caveat: additional expenses below)

District	Budgeted	Expended	Noteworthy
6	02-03: $372,413 01-02: $387,931 00-01: $278,008)	02-03: $348,549 01-02: $369,817 00-01: $364,012)	Fleet services: 02-03: Budgeted $14,981, Expended $12,619 Fleet Services 01-02: Budgeted, $5,992, Expended $15,790
2	02-03: $350,853 01-02: $332,960 00-01: $292,425	02-03 $348,091 01-02: $332,782 00-01: $306,253	Fleet services: 02-03: Budgeted $14,452; Expended $5,529 01-02: Budgeted $8,468; Expended $9,348
3	02-03: $371,453 01-02: $398.574 00-01: $338,191	02-03: $347,025 01-02: $371,157 00-01: $336,330	Auto allowance: 02-03 Budgeted $8,400; Expended $8,300 01-02: Budgeted $8,400; Expended $8,400; Business Meals: Budgeted $1,000, Expended $1,210.59
7 (Took office 7/02)	02-03: $357,073 01-02: $333,621 00-01: $274,240	02-03: $328,924 01-02: $329,311 00-01: $259,328	Auto allowance: 02-03 Budgeted $5,400, Expended $6,000
8	02-03: $329,186 01-02: $307,396 00-01: $284,703	02-03: $308,606 01-02: $305,095 00-01: $275,725	Fleet services: 02-03 Budgeted 10,830, Expended $8,630 01-02: Budgeted: 0, Expended: $7,932; Business Meals: Budgeted $1,800, Expended $665.28
1	02-03: $319,456 01-02: $332,793 00-01: $286,183	02-03: $308,287 01-02: $274,774 00-01: $275,018	Fleet services: 02-03: Budgeted $9,776; Expended $9,998 01-02: Budgeted $8000; Expended $7,780
5	02-03: $328,440 01-02: $315,616 00-01: 293,897	02-03: $295,533 01-02: $318,283 00-01: $293,366	Auto allowance: 02-03 Budgeted $5,400, Expended $5,400
4	02-03: $370,850 01-02: $374,930 00-01: $294,477	02-03: $276,837 01-02: $320,525 00-01: $288,646	Councilman does not take car or auto allowance. Office staffer(s) receive mileage reimbursement: 02-03 budgeted $2,500, expended $2,140
9 (Took office 7/02)	02-03: $322,614 01-02: $251,453 00-01: $256,485	02-03: $265,977 01-02: $253,079 00-01: $235,531	Auto allowance: 02-03: Budgeted $6,600, Expended $9,500 01-02: Budgeted, $5,400; Expended $6,385
Mayor	02-03: $843,475 01-02: $837,261 00-01: $821,588	02-03: $825,290 01-02: $854,980 00-01: $812,709	Fleet services 02-03 Budgeted $10,187, Expended $8,713: 01-02: Budgeted $8,415, Expended $8,468

In addition to the above, the following expended amounts were indicated in the categories of seminars and travel in FY 02-03:

Plus additional Legislative Dept. spending (for items accounted for as shared by Councilmembers & Mayor):