Mayor Angelo Orsi has not charged Orillia for his 2011 mileage and other expenses.

"I did not expense anything because I am able to pay for my own mileage and expenses, which is a continued investment into our city," Orsi said in an email Monday. "If I don't charge expenses, the city saves expenses and so does the taxpayer."

Orillia council expensed a total of $8,574 last year.

"(That figure) is certainly reasonable in comparison to previous years and certainly there is an expectation there will be some amount of expense," said Jim Lang, the city's interim treasurer. "It's ultimately up to the taxpayer to decide what the appropriate amount is."

Orsi earned $53,140 as mayor in 2011, while each councillor made $23,881.

The total remuneration came to $ 2 4 4 ,1 9 5 . Including expenses, Orillia council cost $252,769 in 2011.

Coun. Don Jenkins expensed the most in 2011 at $1,625. The majority of this came from attending a conference, costing $1,050. He charged $248 in mileage and $326 in miscellaneous expenses like local dinner events, name tags and spousal expenses for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.

Coun. Linda Murray was the second-highest spender at $1,300. This came mainly from mileage at $1,174. Her miscellaneous expenses, at $126, covered name tags and local dinner events.

The third highest spender was Coun. Paul Spears, charging $1,158.

He attended a conference at a cost of $838, charged $308 in mileage and $11 in name tags.

Coun. Andrew Hill charged $1,147. The majority, $1,051, came from mileage.

"My mileage might be bit higher than some councillors," he said.

Hill sits on committees, such as Simcoe County Housing, that take him to Newmarket, Barrie, Midhurst and Midland.

His $96 in miscellaneous charges came from a free skate sponsored by council at Rotary Place, a local dinner event and name tags.

Coun. Pete Bowen expensed $1,027. The majority of this, $613, came from attending a conference, $403 was attributed to mileage and $11 was for name tags.

Coun. Patrick Kehoe came in at $991. He attended a conference for $836 and charged $114 for local dinner events and name tags.

Coun. Michael Fogarty expensed $713. His mileage was $520 and he spent $192 on business cards, the free skate sponsorship, food and name tags.

Coun. Tony Madden was the least costly city councillor. He expensed $609. His mileage expenses were $470, while miscellaneous charges were $138. This came from local dinner events, food expenses, council's community skate sponsorship, a BlackBerry charger and name tags.

Because Orsi does not submit expenses, his activities are not documented by the city.

"If any members choose to incur expenses on their own, that's their prerogative," Lang said.

Orsi was asked if he believes not charging expenses to the city could lack transparency since the public doesn't know how active he's been.

"I cannot be more transparent --by attending community functions, charities and meetings -- where my attendance is duly noted and expected," Orsi said.

The mayor has not kept a record of his city expenses.

"I have not kept a tally, (but) I will do so, because it will be interesting to me to know how much I have spent for city business," Orsi said.

Orsi did not attend any conferences last year.

"I did not attend a conference yet, as I have yet to determine a real need for one," he said. "Should there be one that I need to attend, I will do so and, depending on the amount, I may pay for it myself."

In 2010, when Orillia got a new set of council members, expenses totalled $19,000.