Salt Lake County Republican Party Chairman James Evans, another frequent critic of the city's Democratic mayor, said regardless of whether the tabs were excessive, they violated city policy.

"The only city policies that matter with Rocky are the ones he agrees with," Evans said. "If he doesn't agree with them, they don't exist."

While not commenting directly on Anderson's bar tabs, City Attorney Ed Rutan and Human Resources director Brenda Hancock said they weren't sure what sort of punishment would befall a mayor who violated city policy.

Many times city employees who violate policy are given written warnings for a first offense, unless the offense is determined to be egregious, Hancock said.

With a mayor, the City Council could take some sort of punitive action like a formal investigation or impeachment, Hancock said. Or, perhaps, the voters could express their opinions at the ballot box.

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