For the first time, City Council members' expense reports are being posted online.

The expenses, posted on the council's Web site (www.co.honolulu.hi.us/council/ccl.htm), cover the just-completed fiscal year and include such items as trips, refreshments and postage.

Council chairman Donovan Dela Cruz also noted that it was the first year each member of the council started with the same spending allotment — $9,920.

"Prior to this system, the chair controlled everything," Dela Cruz said. "You rewarded your friends (with more spending money) and punished your enemies."

Councilman Gary Okino had complained last year about what he considered excessive spending by Councilman Rod Tam for postage and photocopying.

Okino spent the least ($1,258) last fiscal year, while Tam spent the most ($9,154).

Dela Cruz said there will be more accountability with the online reports. But Okino said he doesn't see how the new system is helping cut down unnecessary expenditures. "It didn't make a difference," Okino said. "It doesn't seem like it did."

The highest-cost items were trips. Romy Cachola, who placed second behind Tam in total spending at $7,419, reported paying an estimated $3,000 for a single trip. Most other members of the council reported spending less than $6,000 apiece.