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Currently councillors incur various costs and utilize personal resources in the service of their constituents for which they are not adequately reimbursed or compensated. In many instances Tads, senators and often local council representatives in other countries are currently entitled to allowances and reimbursements for such costs. Based on my research, I believe a creative proposal could be introduced to compensate councillors for these expenditures. Possible initiatives could include:

• An annual office allowance of €7,600 which could be provided in the form of a tax credit. The figure of €7,600 is the amount a councillor would get tax free if they rented out a room in their home. As a public representative they have given over at least a room in their house for public service. For example in the U.S., home offices have long been a recognized allowable tax deduction.
  
  
• Install a dedicated free phone line in each council office for the sole use of councillors so that calls they make into any council department will not come out of their phone allowance.
  
  
• Continue to explore the idea of some form of pension for councillors, perhaps basing entitlement threshold on attaining a certain number of years of service. A government that spends thousands on radio, television and newspapers telling every one to get a pension should start with those who perform a vital public service.
  
  
• Explore the possibility of sourcing support staff for local councils to assist councillors with their work. This could take the form of an internship program using students from politics, public administration or other relevant disciplines with an interest in local government. Such staff could be used to research particular initiatives, policies or proposed legislation being considered by the local authority.