FRANKSTON councillors have racked up almost $90,000 in expenses since July last year, with more than half of the amount incurred by the six new councillors elected in November.

Most of the money has been spent on "equipment", which includes computers and mobile telephones.

Tables on the council's website show big differences between claims of individual councillors, with Cr Glenn Aitken at the bottom of the list and mayor Colin Hampton and Cr Sandra Mayer at the top.

Cr Aitken claimed $613 for the 2008-09 financial year, while Cr Mayer claimed $14,439, more than a third of which — $5327 — went on child care. Cr Mayer said she had resigned her full-time job due to the workload of being a councillor and that the spending had been endorsed by senior council officers.

Cr Hampton claimed $13,337 over the past financial year, including $4048 on conferences and training, and $4512 on equipment.

A further $8089 has been claimed by the nine sitting councillors from June to September this year.

Of the six councillors voted out, or who retired at last year's poll, Suzette Trewhitt topped the list with $5513 in expenses from July to November, including $1290 on meals and accommodation, and $2697 on training.

Councillors this year voted to give themselves a pay rise just short of the maximum allowed under new State Government laws. Frankston councillors now receive $24,200 annually, while the mayor gets $77,300. This is set to increase to $24,805 and $79,232 respectively on December 1 courtesy of a Government-approved 2.5 per cent pay rise.