BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Howard Council members spent thousands of dollars to attend events and conferences in their first year in office — expenses members say are necessary to demonstrate their political support to the community.

“It’s important as elected officials to be at these events,” said Council Chairwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1.

“It’s also important to remember these are taxpayer dollars we are using and use them wisely,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, D-District 4.

From a library gala to a ball benefiting the Arc of Howard County to the Maryland Association of Counties conference, seminars and meetings have cost council members $6,796 since July 1, 2007.

The five council members have spent $11,537 on vehicle mileage, meals and lodging, and seminars and meetings so far in fiscal 2008, according to expense records obtained by The Examiner.

In fiscal 2007, council members spent $15,426.

Councilman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, was an incumbent, so his expenses covered the entire fiscal year, while the remaining four members took office in December 2006, halfway through the fiscal year.

These expenses could drop off a bit, as the members become more familiar with the organizations and topics. For example, not all members are likely to attend all upcoming Maryland Association of Counties conferences, Watson said.

The County Council budgeted $10,000 for vehicle expenses, $10,000 for meals and lodging, and $17,000 for meetings and seminars in fiscal 2008, council administrator Sheila Tolliver said.

In fiscal 2007, the council budgeted $8,000 for vehicle expenses, $10,000 for meals and lodging, and $10,000 for meetings and seminars, she added.

The amounts for mileage and meetings are higher in fiscal 2008 to reflect rising gas and event ticket prices.

The council usually doesn’t spent as much as is budgeted, and the allotted amount includes other non-council expenses, such as those for assistants and the cost of food for monthly meetings, Tolliver said.

Often council members coordinate events and have one or two members represent the council, particularly as members are juggling jobs and families, said Ball.

“For the vast majority of our community, they want us to go out and show we care and respect the good work they are doing,” he said.

As the sole Republican on the council, Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5, said he felt compelled to attend as many events “as I reasonably can.”

Fox’s expenses for mileage are also higher, since his district includes the entire western part of the county.

“Being the only Republican and a large district and the largest number of constituents, it all adds up,” Fox said.

But, he added, “it’s all minor [expenses].”

Councilwoman Jen Terrasa, D-District 3, could not be reached for comment.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com