Mayor and councillors pay up $88k

Waimate’s ratepayers face forking out an extra $88,188 to pay the district’s councillors and mayor in 2020-21.

A draft remuneration budget from the Remuneration Authority shows a jump to $312,967 from $224,779.

In his report to the council, policy analyst Leonardo Milani said the draft budget was aligned to the authority’s determined mayoral salary and councillor remuneration pool, with an allowance for inflationary adjustment.

Mayor Craig Rowley said the Remuneration Authority dictated the figures and confirmed ratepayers would fund the costs.

‘‘It is very difficult to agree to it. My hands are tied.’’

‘‘It’s a balancing act, we want good governance, it’s all relative.’’

Rowley said there was an increasing officials.

A $37.50 per hour travel allowance was questioned by the meeting.

‘‘It can get very expensive, travel time allowance is going to clock into significant amounts,’’ Cr Sharyn Cain said.

Cr Tom O’Connor said he was not comfortable with the travel allowance, adding he was not going to claim for everything.

Rowley said no-one had claimed the allowance, to his knowledge.

The report showed councillors’ annual remuneration was currently at $25,921 while the deputy mayor was $38,882 and the mayor $86,500.

Other costs published in the report showed elected members’ annual allowances of $150 for personal mobile phones, $200 for personal computers, $40 for printers, $400 for personal telephone plans and $400 for personal internet plans.

Cr Fabia Fox moved to accept the report which was seconded by Rowley. demand on elected