Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 5:15

"But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God." — Nehemiah 5:15 (ASV)

Forty shekels of silver - A daily sum from the entire province. For such a table as that kept by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:18), this would be a very moderate payment.