By SONJA KOREMANS
Councillors redirect pay rise to the people…
SOUTHERN Downs councillors have decided that now is not the time to give themselves a pay hike.
But ratepayers will still have to wear the $15,000 cost of the salary increases after SDRC Mayor Peter Blundell “forgot“ to dispute the rise in an appropriate timeframe, making the amount automatically part of this year’s council budget.
Just days out from handing down the 2015-’16 budget and a dead-certain rate rise for landowners, councillors yesterday voted against a 2.3 per cent pay rise claiming “it wouldn’t be a good look“.
A 2.3 per cent increase to their annual allowance was recommended by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal from next week (July 1) but doesn’t have to be taken and is not linked to any performance measure.
Cr Jamie Mackenzie was particularly opposed to a pay rise, stating that it would cost ratepayers about $15,000 a year.
“It is simply not correct for councillors to get more funds at this time when our financial situation is dire,” Cr Mackenzie said.
“To not take it (the salary increase) is better than cutting back on services and infrastructure projects and it all helps to curtail borrowing or raising rates.
“The money would be better applied as a grant to support a struggling community service, on dilapidated gravel roads, to sports fields or parks or maybe an off-leash area for dogs.”
At its monthly meeting yesterday (Wednesday), councillors unanimously voted down the pay increase, following Cr Mackenzie’s strong objection to it.
The rise would have bumped up Mayor Peter Blundell’s pay about $2750 to come in at $120,226, while Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley would have earned $75,141, both including superannuation.
Under the rates, Cr Bartley would have increased by $1962 and the other councillors by $1436.
CEO David Keenan confirmed the council had failed to dispute the pay rise before the tribunal’s three-month cut-off, so would still have to budget for the increase.
Cr Mackenzie questioned the mayor on why the pay increase talk hadn’t come six months earlier.
“Why didn’t the mayor honour his public undertaking to formally consider the increases in January this year?” Cr Mackenzie asked.
“If we didn’t object in 90 days, the rules say it is an automatic increase.”
The mayor confirmed it had been an error on his behalf.
Councillors voted to move the 2.3 per cent increase to other activities in the operational budget.
The council budget will be handed down next Thursday.
Southern Free Times was going to print at the time of yesterday’s council meeting but we will bring you all the details online this week, including council’s proposal to raise commercial and residential subdivision fees as well as recommendation to spend $145,000 on council’s community mobile library project.
