The council has had five acting or permanent general managers since David Metcalfe left the role in July 2019.

Between January and July 2019 Mr Metcalfe was on leave - with his absence covered by a mixture of internal staff and external appointed acting general managers.

The $168,058 spent between January 2019 and September 2020, included travel and accommodation expenses, and was about $5000 more than would have been spent on a permanent general manager in the same period.

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The expenditure figures were released in the agenda for the council's January 19 meeting in response to a question on notice from a ratepayer.

Current general manager Greg Ingham said the spending on acting general managers did not have a serious budget implication for the council.

"Council is required to have a general manager appointed at all times, so in periods of substantial leave an acting general manager is required to be appointed," he said.

"Overall, there was no material budget implication incurred by council for engaging acting general managers during the period in question, that would not otherwise be incurred during normal operations."

Glamorgan Spring Bay council has been riddled with controversy for about a year with bullying allegations levelled against former mayor Debbie Wisby. Ms Wisby resigned last year citing the impact of "unfair" coverage on her health.

Her resignation triggered a byelection. Misinformation spread about that election forced the electoral commission to issue a public correction.

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