Nearly half of Mayor Matt Brown’s 2017 expenses were consulting payments to a former top aide who left her city hall job nearly two years ago, public documents show.

Corrine Rahman, who left as Brown’s chief of staff when news of his affair with a council colleague became public in June 2016, was paid nearly $24,000 by Brown’s office in 2017, according to public documents that detail expenses in the mayor’s office.

Rahman and Brown’s office say her work included several events, namely the public New Year’s Eve event in Victoria Park and Brown’s State of the City speech. She was paid in 11 installments over the course of 2017.

Brown responded to questions – including why the work wasn’t done by office staff – with a brief statement: “Corrine Rahman assisted my office, (and) during her tenure she worked on projects like the newcomer picnic, New Year’s Eve in the Park, and State of the City.”

One municipal government expert said the consulting pact would have created a balancing act for the mayor: he would have to weigh the value of the work with the optics of making hefty payments to a departed staffer.

“You make a calculation whether this is worth it – if you feel you’re going to get a better event, or better work from this person for consulting fees, versus the questions raised,” Zachary Spicer, a professor with the University of Toronto, said.

“It certainly raises questions. But raising questions doesn’t mean there’s anything nefarious going on.”

Some, including other members of city council, found it odd.

“I am surprised that someone would have been paid $24,000 – out of what is essentially taxpayer money, whether it’s within somebody’s budget or not – to do something that could have been done by inside staff,” Coun. Phil Squire said.

Brown’s expenses totaled $54,800.61 in 2017, including travel, gifts, some office supplies, and “professional services” like consulting. It's a marked jump from his office spending in 2016 and 2015, which hovered around $30,000 annually.

Rahman says her expertise and connections in London made her a good fit to work on State of the City and the New Year’s Eve bash as a consultant.

“I’m really proud of the work I’ve done for the mayor’s office over the course of the last four years,” Rahman told The Free Press, noting that she also worked on the 2017 State of the City speech as a consultant.

“It speaks to the fact that it’s important to have contacts and be able to go to those you trust when you need things done.” More specifically, Rahman said her tasks in 2017 included seeking sponsorship for the Dec. 31 party in Victoria Park and working with local businesses and organizations to put together Brown’s election-year State of the City speech.

mstacey@postmedia.com

MAYOR’S OFFICE EXPENSES

2015 - $29,621.86

2016 – $29,948.56

2017 – $54,800.61