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Brooklyn, NY - Borough President Marty Markowitz accepted more free travel than any other elected official in New York City last year, journeying with his wife to Turkey and the Netherlands, records released Tuesday showed.

Mr. Markowitz, and his wife, Jamie, visited the Netherlands March 18-21, 2009, and they spent Nov. 13-17 in Turkey. Each trip cost between $5,000 and $39,999, and in both cases the couple allowed others to pay their way, records show.

The trips were disclosed in a financial disclosure report filed with the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board. The board released Tuesday the reports for the lion’s share of the city’s elected officials, providing a glimpse at officials’ income, debts and real-estate holdings.

For example, the filings showed a third of the City Council’s 51 members listed credit-card debts.

As for the international trips, Mr. Markowitz wrote he traveled to the Netherlands to represent the city at that country’s celebration of its 400-year relationship with New York.

Mr. Markowitz’s spokesman, Mark Zustovich, said airfare was paid by the Keukenhof Garden and the Dutch government. The Grand Hotel Amrath Amsterdam provided lodging and breakfast, he said. The couple also accepted food at some of the official events, he said.

For the trip to Turkey, Mr. Markowitz wrote on his filing that the goal was to develop “sister-city” status with the city of Izmir and “develop multipurpose collaborations and strengthen relations.” That trip was paid for by the Federation of Turkish American Associations.

To get a detailed breakdown of the borough president’s expenses, Mr. Zustovich said The Wall Street Journal would be required to file a Freedom of Information request.

Two City Council members also reported accepted trips on other people’s dime. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to speak at an awards dinner.

The Belfast Media Group paid for Ms. Quinn and one aide at a cost of between $1,000 and $4,999.99. Ms. Quinn personally paid for her father and another aide to attend, and she received board approval to do so, a spokesman said.

Council Member James Sanders of Queens reported accepting payment for a trip to Israel, but he said in an interview that the trip took place this year and that he had mistakenly included it on a disclosure report covering 2009.

He said he planned to amend the filing.

Council Member Charles Barron of Brooklyn failed to report his high-profile trip to Gaza sponsored by Viva Palestina, a pro-Palestine group. “It was a simple oversight,” he said, adding he couldn’t specify the cost of the trip.

Two City Council members, Gale Brewer of Manhattan and Mr. Sanders, failed to file their reports on time. This year marks Ms. Brewer’s sixth late filing and Mr. Sanders’s second late filing. In 2005, the board fined Ms. Brewer $5,000 and Mr. Sanders $500.

This year, both council members are subject to a fine between $250 and $10,000. The board can consider, among other factors, a history of tardiness in assessing the penalty.

“I didn’t know I was late this year,” said Ms. Brewer when contacted at her office. Asked to explain why she was late, she replied, “There is no reason—busy with work.” When told the board is expected to fine her, she said, “That’s fine.”

Mr. Sanders said he was late because he was “overtaken by the duties of being a council person.”

As for the fine, he said, “Well, if they want to fine me, why not? Help yourself.”

Mirroring many Americans, many elected officials reported they are burdened with credit-card debt.

Council Member Inez Dickens of Manhattan reported debt on eight different credit cards, with the debt on each card ranging from $5,000 to $39,999.

Asked to comment, Lynette Velasco, a spokeswoman for Ms. Dickens, said, “She pays her bills on time, and quite frankly, as far as getting more information, that’s none of your business.”

Council Member Vincent Gentile of Brooklyn reported debt on seven credit cards, with debt on each card ranging between $5,000 and $39,999. An aide didn’t return a call for comment.

Council Member Oliver Koppell of the Bronx had the highest-ranging credit-card debt, listing three cards for a debt total of at least $165,000. Mr. Koppell said his practice of borrowing was “pretty consistent” with what he’s done over the years.

He said he borrows so much because of the low interest rates he’s offered by the credit-card companies.

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