Shadbolt's 'no credit card' policy

Tim Shadbolt. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt is paying all expenses out of his own pocket after getting rid of his mayoral credit card more than a year ago.

Mr Shadbolt said credit cards were simply "not worth the hassle" and he was advising those in public office to follow his example and cut them up.

"I would advise all elected officials not to have one," he said.

He made the decision to get rid of the card, which came with a credit limit of $14,000, last April following scrutiny over his use of the card for personal transactions.

Although covering personal expenses through regular automatic payments, "I got rid of my credit card because regardless of the expenditure it always looks bad".

Despite being entitled to claim for council-related expenses, Mr Shadbolt said it "took too much time and paperwork". He said he tried to estimate how much the move had cost him personally, and it proved too difficult, but it was easily in the thousands. "I will just write it off."

He would continue his "no credit card" policy if re-elected at the local body elections, he said.

Invercargill City Council finance and corporate services director Dean Johnston said he had reviewed the council's credit card spending after an Official Information Act request by the Otago Daily Times, and there "is no cause for concern".

The council operated 12 cards, most with a $3000 limit, except for his own, which had a $10,000 limit, and chief executive Richard King's, which had a limit of $20,000.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES