Southern District Health Board chief executive expenses totalled $16,438 last year, figures on the health board's website show.
Spending included $1130 in air fares to attend a chief executive development course in Adelaide in August, during which $908 was spent on meals, accommodation and taxis.
Chief executive Carole Heatly started the job in March, so some 2012 expenses were incurred by acting chief executive Lexie O'Shea.
In 2011, chief executive expenses totalled $19,869.
