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For most officials, lunch is still on you |
Most public officials who munch meals on the taxpayer’s tab aren’t cutting back on their free food despite the recession.Richland, Lexington and Kershaw taxpayers spend almost $70,000 a year to feed public officials, a sampling of school and hospital boards, municipal councils and recreation commissions found.The meal costs come at a time when all levels of government are weighing layoffs, furloughs and other belt-tightening measures.“Using taxpayer money to fill somebody’s belly who is capable of paying for a meal on their own just isn’t kosher,” said Rita Crapps, a councilwoman in Batesburg-Leesville, which does not pay for meals.The city of Columbia recently sliced $7,000 out of City Council’s lunchtime catering budget. But most other local governments said they have no plans to put their members on diets.
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