The seven councillors claimed a total of $102,965 in expenses, including on car mileage, travel, information and communication, conferences and training on top of councillor allowances worth $27,944 each and the mayor's allowance worth $86,000.

Moyne also had the biggest increase in councillor expenses compared with neighbouring councils, up from $84,999 the year before, but chief executive Bill Millard said that was mostly because $16,000 in costs for the mayoral vehicle were mistakenly omitted from the 2017-18 annual report.

"The expenses reflect the longer distances travelled by councillors across the shire to attend meetings, community events and functions," Mr Millard said.

Mayor Mick Wolfe said the council had audited councillor spending and was "satisfied with the justification of spending by councillors".

"If attendance is justified I am quite happy with that figure, its a $60-million organisation and we are talking expenses that are justified and checked," Cr Wolfe said.

"Yes it does sound like a lot but it shows the activities and the interest of the councillors."

Meanwhile, Corangamite Shire councillor expenses also increased in the past two financial years, from $46,512 in 2017-18 to $51,840. That's on top of councillors' $22,596 wage and the mayor's $67,507 income.

Corangamite Shire CEO Andrew Mason said the rise was due to councillor Simon Illingworth taking a $7134 Australian Institute of Company Directors course, which the council approved last year.

"Councillor Illingworth has indicated that this is the only professional development that he will undertake during his four-year term," he said.

Glenelg councillors claimed $73,216 for the same expenses last financial year, up from $64,080 the previous year.

Council chief Greg Burgoyne said councillors were reimbursed for costs of council representation on boards, which required travel. "These expenses are incurred as a direct result of advocacy and representation on behalf of the community," he said.

But two councils went down, with Southern Grampians councillors collectively spending $23,066 on allowances in 2018-19, a decrease of $8527 from the previous year. Warrnambool City councillors also claimed a collective $25,757 last financial year, down from $30,220 the year before.

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