Council: Mayor Tom Tate slams councillor’s letter bill as Boulton refuses to apologise

A Gold Coast councillor has refused to apologise for spending nearly $60,000 on letters and stamps despite Mayor Tom Tate saying it “doesn’t pass the pub test”.

MAYOR Tom Tate has criticised one of his councillors for spending nearly $60,000 on stamps and letters in one financial year, saying it “didn’t pass the pub test”.

But in a letter to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Labrador councillor Kristyn Boulton says she will “not apologise” for communicating well with her constituents.

The Bulletin today revealed five councillors spent $81,304 on mail-outs through City Hall’s print room in the 12 months to June 30.

Cr Boulton’s share was easily the highest, at $57,683.24.

This equates to around $1109 a week or $4806 a month, and, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, exceeds the Gold Coast’s mean annual wage of $56,022.

Gold Coast City Councillor Kristyn Boulton (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Cr Tate condemned the spend, saying it was “too much”.

“It is a question about other people’s money. It’s not a good look and my attitude is that unless it is something that is a (significant) civic matter, it’s too much to spend,” he said.

“For those who have been spending minimally, my congratulations, but for those who are spending something like $57,000, that doesn’t pass the pub test, so bring (your spending) back.”

The amount of money councillors spend on mailouts through council’s print shop has never previously been available.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. (MIN. COST $4)

The data was presented to councillors by chief executive Dale Dickson at Tuesday night’s full council meeting after questions were raised by Cr Cameron Caldwell.

Cr Boulton did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Tuesday. However, she defended her spending of ratepayers money on Wednesday in a letter to the Bulletin.

“I care about keeping my residents informed, which is why I communicate with them, and letters and flyers are a big part of that,” she wrote.

“Not everyone has access to social media and Facebook. I’m a councillor who wants to represent everyone in her community.

“Further, I believe the report released to the media was incomplete and inaccurate and doesn’t address the context of how and why the letters were sent.

Cr Glenn Tozer. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“But I’m not interested in playing politics and I’m not apologising for communicating well with my residents who I know appreciate it.”

Cr Glenn Tozer, who spent $18,341 on postage last financial year, disputed the figures, saying they did not present an accurate picture of how much was spent by councillors.

“I’ve been informed the table is incomplete and inaccurate when it comes to total postage costs,” he wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.

“Frankly, it would be fair to say the community seem to expect a letter between two and four times per year about local matters.”