CENTRAL FLORIDA -- Despite tough economic times, Eyewitness News learned some smaller local cities spent thousands of dollars just to fly representatives to a national conference. They are attending the National League of Cities conference.

There were plenty of cities that didn't send anybody. Ocoee is one of 39 Florida cities at the conference in Texas, but no city sent more people.

Three commissioners, the city manager and even the new police chief are all there, but not everyone's convinced it's worth the money.

This year's theme of the National League of Cities conference is navigating through economic recovery, but some taxpayers said the tough times are exactly why they wanted their leaders to stay home.

“It's just too expensive right now to be sending people to something like that. I see no reason for it,” Ocoee Resident Rick Ross.

Many cities in Central Florida seemed to agree and sent no one to the week-long conference in San Antonio.

Belle Isle sent one person, Daytona Beach sent three, one person from Ocala, two from Orlando and Palm Bay and Winter Garden sent one each.

But the city of Ocoee sent five people to Texas.

“Is this worth the taxpayer money?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.

“Yes. We are fortunate to have on our staff people that didn't put us in a position that a lot of cities are, including Orlando,” Ocoee Mayor Scott Vandergift said.

Vandergrift says money was already budgeted for the conference. Registration fees run between $300 and $700 per person.

Workshops focus on topics like finance, communications and public safety, but a program guide also featured tours of San Antonio's Mission Trail and the Texas Hill Country.

Some government watchdogs insist sending more than one person doesn't make sense.

“We've reduced everything, everybody has. Every county, city, state, federal government we're cutting back because the money's not there,” government watchdog Mike Walzak said.

The town of Eatonville sent four people and the Mayor feels the conference will save them Money in the long run. Eyewitness News learned that attendance for the conference is down 50 percent from 2008.