DERBYSHIRE'S 64 county councillors cost the public purse just over £1 million in the past financial year – an average of £1.31 per taxpayer.
The amount each councillor was paid during 2012-13 has now been released by the county council.
Of the £1 million, £61,336 was made up of expenses – an average of £958 per councillor.
The amount is far less than 10 years ago, when Derbyshire councillors were claiming an average £1,988 in expense claims.
It is because councillors can now only claim subsistence, such as accommodation costs and food bills, in exceptional circumstances.
Mileage allowances were also dropped from 65p per mile to 45p per mile.
The highest-paid councillor at County Hall during 2012-13 was the then council leader, Andrew Lewer, who took home £46,372 – including £3,556 in expenses.
His deputy, Simon Spencer was paid £37,215, of which £2,619 was made up of expense claims.
Both men lost their roles following Labour's election win over the Tories on May 2.
Councillor John Harrison cost the taxpayer the most in expenses.
The Aston and Melbourne member, who has since retired from politics, claimed £4,627 – mostly in travel expenses.
Mr Harrison, who served as cabinet member for finance and management, said: "As a cabinet member, on average, I was travelling 250 miles every week to get from my home in Melbourne to County Hall in Matlock.
"The whole amount I received in terms of travel expenses went on petrol, tyres and depreciation costs. I'm actually out of pocket."
Some councillors opted not to put in any expense forms. They included Anne Western, the then leader of the main opposition – a role that was paid £18,168.
Mrs Western, who is now the leader of the council following Labour's election win, was among 13 councillors who claimed no expenses.
Disgraced former chairman Robin Baldry – who left the council in December after being convicted of fiddling his expenses – was paid £6,899 for the six months he served as a councillor from May 2012 until he resigned his seat.
Accounts show he paid back £2,074 of the money he stole from the public purse.
Linda Holmes, 41, of Milward Road, Heanor, said she had mixed thoughts on the numbers.
She said: "It works out at less than £20,000 per councillor, which isn't too bad.
"Having said that, what do they do exactly and do we really need 64 councillors?
"I couldn't tell you who my county councillor is."
Brian Skelton, 44, of Albert Road, Sandiacre, said: "The cost seems reasonable.
"I'm glad the council has clamped down on expenses.
"That's what winds people up the most."
Check out how much your local councillor for 2012-13 cost the taxpayer: ALFRETON Cllr D Wilson - £10,599.60 ALPORT AND DERWENT Cllr JC Jackson - £15,115.95 ASHBOURNE Cllr AI Lewer - £46,372.75 ASHGATE Cllr RW Russell - £10,167.60 ASTON AND MELBOURNE Cllr JP Harrison - £31,015.07 BAKEWELL Cllr JA Twigg - £21,293.40 BARLBOROUGH AND CLOWNE Cllr A Western - £18,168.00 BELPER Cllr P Makin - £19,277.05 BIRDHOLME Cllr D Allen - £10,925.95 BOLSOVER NW, ELMTON AND WHITWELL Cllr K Stevenson - £10,907.85 BOLSOVER SW AND SCARCLIFFE Cllr JE Dixon - £11,346.25 BREADSALL AND WEST HALLAM Cllr CA Hart - £29,294.70 BREASTON Cllr RA Parkinson - £19,455.65 BRIMINGTON Cllr W Burrows - £10,451.10 BUXTON NORTH AND EAST Cllr GP Reddy - £14,402.70 BUXTON WEST Cllr RB Baldry (disqualified) - £4,825.42 CHAPEL AND HOPE VALLEY Cllr T Critchlow - £9,948.00 CLAY CROSS Cllr PJ Riggott - £9,948.00 COTMANHAY Cllr BC Lucas - £11,978.90 DERWNT VALLEY Cllr MV Longden - £29,412.50 DOVEDALE Cllr SA Spencer - £37,215.70 DRONFIELD NORTH Cllr JA Allsop - £28,250.05 DRONFIELD SOUTH Cllr SM Allsop - £19,586.10 DUFFIELD AND BELPER SOUTH Cllr SJ Bradford - £16,015.15 ECKINGTON Cllr B Ridgway - £9,948.00 ETHEROW Cllr DJ Wilcox - £10,980.50 GLOSSOP NORTH AND RURAL Cllr GD Wharmby - £20,102.20 GLOSSOP SOUTH Cllr J Wharmby - £19,777.35 GREATER HEANOR Cllr KL Parkinson - £27,346.45 HATTON AND HILTON Cllr J Patten - £17,607.35 HEAGE Cllr JN Stevens - £9,948.00 HEANOR CENTRAL Cllr CM Cox - £9,948.00 HIPPER Cllr KP Morgan - £9,948.00 HOLYMOORSIDE AND WINDERWORTH Cllr SJ Ellis - £19,271.55 HORSLEY Cllr GJE MacDonald - £15,953.70 ILKESTON Cllr G Birkin - £9,948.00 KILLAMARSH Cllr AF Charles - £7,513.55 KIRK HALLAM Cllr MW Booth - £10,949.40 LINTON AND CHURCH GRESLEY Cllr CW Jones - £29,826.10 LONG EATON Cllr RL Hosker - £12,681.30 MATLOCK Cllr S Flitter - £14,889.00 MIDWAY AND HARTSHORNE Cllr P Murray - £22,361.65 NEWBOLD Cllr AH Rogers - £10,101.90 NEWHALL AND SEALES Cllr M Lacey - £11,594.60 NEW MILLS Cllr E Atkins - £10,408.80 NORTH WINGFIELD AND TUPTON Cllr K Gillott - £9,948.00 PETERSHAM Cllr GK Hickton - £17,078.40 PINXTON AND SOUTH NORMANTON WEST Cllr J Coyle - £10,228.80 REPTON AND WILLINGTON Cllr M Ford - £18,854.90 RIPLEY Cllr D Bowley - £14,548.05 SANDIACRE Cllr W Major - £15,855.60 SAWLEY Cllr C Pidgeon - £9,948.00 SHIREBROOK AND PLEASLEY Cllr M Stockdale - £10,680.60 SOMERCOTES Cllr PJ Smith - £10,673.40 SOUTH NORMANTON EAST AND TIBSHELF Cllr CR Moesby - £11,030.55 SPIRE Cllr SL Blank - £9,948.00 ST MARY'S Cllr MA Higginbottom - £9,948.00 STAVELEY NORTH AND WHITTINGTON Cllr D Stone - £10,085.25 STAVELEY SOUTH Cllr JG Williams - £9,948.00 STONEBROOM AND PILSLEY Cllr B Lewis - £27,455.40 SUTTON Cllr D Chapman - £10,443.00 SWADLINCOTE CENTRAL AND WOODVILLE Cllr GA Farrington - £20,764.90 WHALEY BRIDGE AND BLACKBROOK Cllr DB Taylor - £10,640.10 WIRKSWORTH Cllr GW Purdy - £15,268.75POLL: Do you think councillors should use public transport to help cut down their costs? Have your say on our poll, above right.