Anne Arundel County Council members have probably done worse things to abuse their positions than their recent $1,169 taxpayer-financed splurge on crabs and beer for themselves and some staff members at a waterfront restaurant, but nothing comes immediately to mind. That they could rack up such charges hours after approving a county budget with 12-day furloughs and other drastic spending cuts suggests they are not only oblivious but have iron stomachs to match.

No doubt all involved possess a strong sense of entitlement to ward off indigestion, or at least a high tolerance for hypocrisy. Fortunately for taxpayers, they were shamed into paying the money back last week, but the story is unlikely to end there.

Last month's lunch ($974.72 plus 20 percent tip) was probably intended as something of a reward to auditors and other staff for the weeks of effort in finalizing the budget. The council had done much the same thing last year — submitting a $917 bill at Jimmy Cantler's Riverside Inn.

But in the midst of the worst economic recession in several generations, and with the county struggling to meet its obligations and expecting all its employees to get by on 4 percent to 5 percent less in pay and benefits, one would think that council members would be pulling out their wallets faster than you can say, "This is going to look really bad to taxpayers."

Adding a certain je ne sais quoi to this epicurean delight is the long list of excuses coming from the diners. The top two: They planned from the start to pay back the county (but somehow haven't gotten around to reimbursing the county for last year's lunch), and dividing up the bill was too difficult (an unintended slap at the lawyers and auditors in attendance, one presumes).

Seems the freeloading behavior transcends party affiliation. Republicans and Democrats alike were happy to partake. That the sum involved is not exactly a windfall makes it all the more embarrassing that the council members couldn't just split the check.

Certainly, this council doesn't mind taking money out of other people's wallets. Earlier this year, the council passed legislation eliminating council health insurance subsidies and a $350 monthly car reimbursement benefit — but applied it only to future councils, not the current board. They are also expected to soon eliminate pension benefits to their successors as well.

Herb McMillan, president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, has it exactly right when he describes the council as "out of touch" with the financial hardships their constituents are dealing with these days. Surely there are pizza parlors or delis in Annapolis that would have been only too happy to accommodate the crowd. Or, perhaps they might simply have pooled their money beforehand.

It would be difficult to argue that this council is particularly productive and deserving of a subsidized and tax-free treat. It took the same people most of a year to approve zoning for the planned Arundel Mills slot machine facility. Working hard is simply not nearly as popular an Annapolis pastime as freeloading on the public dime.