Figures released by the council yesterday showed five councillors had together claimed $21,343.09 in reimbursements for other costs in the year to June.
The reimbursements included councillors' costs for items such as stationery, internet, parking and taxis, council governance manager Sandy Graham said in a covering letter.
However, most of the bill came from claims by Crs Kate Wilson ($10,784.89) and Andrew Noone ($8661.02), mainly for mileage at 70c a km travelled, she confirmed.
Cr Noone's bill also included $960 to cover most of the cost of a satellite internet connection installed about four years ago, at the council's expense, due to connection problems where he lived, she said.
Cr Wilson told the Otago Daily Times she was "not particularly happy" about topping the list for mileage claims but did her best to minimise her travel and costs.
She believed it was important to have representation on the council from outside the city centre, and "it comes with a cost".
"It's not a thing I'm proud of, but it's a reality of democracy."
Cr Noone said his mileage claims covered petrol costs and wear and tear on his vehicle.
"My livelihood is farming and you can't just pack up and shift to the urban environment.
"I think it's an appropriate reimbursement," he said.
Mayor Peter Chin agreed, saying the council's policy on reimbursements was long-standing and allowed councillors in far-flung parts of the city to get to work without cost to themselves.
"They are all elected representatives. If they are living as far as Kate [Wilson] does from where all the meetings are . . . she would spend over one-third of [her pay] getting to and from work."
"I have no issue at all with the policy," he said.
The reimbursements were part of a wider bill for expenses accrued by Dunedin's elected representatives totalling $39,403.63 in the 12-month period to June, Ms Graham's letter said.
That included $13,443 spent on travel (mainly flights) during the 12-month period, with Mr Chin ($4532) and deputy mayor Syd Brown ($4080) the highest spenders.
They were followed by Cr Michael Guest ($1242).
Five councillors - Crs Neil Collins, Dave Cull, Teresa Stevenson, Colin Weatherall and Kate Wilson - claimed no travel expenses during the year while the remainder each kept their costs below $1000.
The city's elected representatives also spent a combined $4617.54 on accommodation during the year.
However, a breakdown of the accommodation figure was not included in the council release.
Only five councillors contributed to the $21,343.09 bill for general reimbursements - Crs Wilson, Noone, Guest, Colin Weatherall and John Bezett.
Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association chairman Lyndon Weggery said he believed the costs were "probably not too bad considering the workload for those outlying wards".
"I think . . . we have been reasonably well treated as ratepayers. I don't have any major concerns. It's not over the top."
Councillors' pay for last financial year
Peter Chin: $120,911 (mayor, chairman performance appraisal, conduct, annual plan hearings).
Colin Weatherall: *$61,710 (resource consent hearings chairman).
Andrew Noone: *$60,052 (infrastructure services committee chairman).
Syd Brown: $59,663 (deputy mayor).
Richard Walls: *$55,603 (finance and strategy committee chairman, resource consent hearings deputy chairman).
Paul Hudson: ***$51,895 (community development committee chairman).
Michael Guest: $49,719 (planning and environment committee chairman).
John Bezett: $49,719 (economic development committee chairman).
Kate Wilson: ***$47,390.
Dave Cull: $42,421 (economic development committee deputy chairman).
Fliss Butcher: *$42,140 (community assistance chairwoman, community development committee deputy chairwoman).
Bill Acklin: $41,775 (infrastructure services committee deputy chairman).
Neil Collins: $41,775 (planning and environment committee deputy chairman).
Chris Staynes: $41,775 (finance and strategy committee deputy chairman).
Teresa Stevenson: $41,304.
*Crs Fliss Butcher, Paul Hudson, Andrew Noone, Richard Walls and Colin Weatherall's remuneration includes consent hearing fees.
**Cr Paul Hudson was paid $110,986 director's fees as director of Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, Aurora Energy Ltd, Citibus Ltd, City Forests Ltd and Delta Utility Services Ltd.
***Kate Wilson was paid $7740 director's fees as director of the Taieri Gorge Railway.
