Council backs pay hike

By Melissa Grant
CARDINIA Shire councillors are set to endorse their 30.46 per cent pay rise in the coming fortnight.
Civic leaders are likely to vote to retain the increase, which they have been receiving since 1 December.
The State Government last year set the parameters for the rise, which saw Cardinia Shire councillors allowance jump from $15,000 to $19,600. The mayor’s increased from $46,500 to $60,700.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said he would vote to keep the rise when the remuneration was reviewed at the next council meeting on 15 June.
“I’ll be voting to retain it because it was based on CPI over eight years that we didn’t have a rise,” he said.
“We discussed it at the time and thought three per cent per annum was fine.”
Councillor Brett Owen said he too would endorse the rise when it was reviewed.
“The current levels are appropriate,” he said.
“The mayor is a little bit of a rise compared to the previous level but the new allocation of $60,000 reflects their commitment.
“(Also) people have to understand it’s minus tax.”
Councillor Collin Ross said it was appropriate to retain the increase when considering it was the first civic leaders had received in eight years.
“If I had a group of workers in the workforce that hadn’t had a pay rise in eight years and I hadn’t got them one, they would be pretty dirty on me,” he said.
“Another one probably won’t come for another few years when considering what’s happened in the past.”
Councillor Stuart Halligan said he was also content with the current remuneration package. He said the allowance was a “fair” reflection of councillors’ work, particularly that of the mayor.
“It’s (mayor) a time-consuming job and I know Bill (Pearson) has put in his all,” he said.
In addition to their remuneration, civic leaders are also eligible for travel and mobile phone allowances.
The State Government sets the upper and lower limits for all allowances paid to councillors and mayors.
Councillors are required to review their allowance levels within seven months of a council election. The allowance level determined will remain until the time of the next election (2012).
Ratepayers and residents will have four weeks to write submissions on the issue following the council review.