The 85 elected members of B.C.'s legislative assembly cost B.C. taxpayers a total of $14 million last year, according to figures released by the government on Monday.

The total, which was revealed for the first time in this year's public accounts, includes all the salaries, travel and other expenses racked up by the MLAs during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

They show just over $10 million was spent on salaries and just under $1.2 million to cover living expenses for the MLAs in Victoria.

The figures also reveal the MLAs from all parties spent nearly $2.5 million on business travel last year to perform their jobs.

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA and Minister for Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell had the highest travel expenses at more than $68,000, perhaps a reflection of his riding's distance from Victoria.

New Democrat MLA Harry Lali, who represents the riding of Fraser-Nicola had the biggest travel bill on the Opposition benches with $58,000.

NDP caucus chair Shane Simpson says Lali's expenses are also high because he is the NDP's only member from that part of the province so he has travel a lot to represent the Opposition in the region.

Simpson says it's the first time there's been a list of expenses for all members, not just ministers, following an agreement made between both parties last year, and they demonstrate responsible spending by members of both parties.

"People are spending the money in travelling into small communities around the province and engaging people in ways that wouldn't happen otherwise," said Simpson.

"I think we're all pretty pleased that, you know, nobody is having, unlike in Britain, where people were talking about having their moats cleaned and things like that, there isn't much of that going on in British Columbia," said Simpson, referring to an parliamentary spending scandal that recent shocked taxpayers in Britain.