Metro Atlanta officials boost travel spending | www.myajc.com

The elected leaders of metro Atlanta’s five largest local governments spent about 9 percent more taxpayer dollars on travel and training last year than they did in 2012, even as some of them prepared to raise taxes and cut spending on popular public services.

Thirty-four officials from the city of Atlanta and the counties of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett traveled to such cities as New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Houston in 2013, as well as to Georgia locales such as Savannah and Lake Lanier Islands, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation has found. Collectively they spent nearly $210,000 in public money last year traveling to conferences and other events.

Leading the way: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who spent $27,988 on travel in 2013. Other top spenders included Atlanta City Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd ($17,799), Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves ($12,162), Atlanta City Councilwoman Felicia Moore ($11,795) and Fulton Commissioner Joan Garner ($11,517).

Some taxpayers doubt elected officials need to spend so much jetting around the country after years of tax hikes and budget cuts have left many residents paying more for less service. Fulton commissioners — who spent nearly $40,000 on travel and training last year — just passed a budget that anticipates a 15 percent property tax increase and cuts library hours and other services.

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