Ballarat councillors will vote on giving themselves a pay rise following the presentation of community feedback at council’s meeting on Wednesday night.
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Councillors will receive an extra $5000 a year and the mayor an additional $18,000 per annum under the recommendation.
Victorian Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins approved a reclassification that put council into a higher scale for its mayoral and councillor allowance if it chose to earlier this year.
The proposal was first presented to a council meeting in January, when it was approved for 28 days of public exhibition.
Only one community member responded during the public feedback period, writing in an email that they opposed a pay increase.
Ms Hutchins approved the pay increase following a review into the population in the municipality and variations to councils revenue figures.
The mayoral allowance would increase to $94,641 and councillors would be paid $29,630 if the proposal is approved on Wednesday night.
This is an increase from for the mayor $76,521 per year and $29,630 for councillors.
Cr Mark Harris opposed the original proposal to increase the councillor allowance in January.
Cr Harris said he could not comment how he would vote on Wednesday night, but he could see both sides of the issue.
"Because it was a tough budget I thought it was not sending the right message to approve it,” he said.
“It is a fractional increase, but the rest of the council thought it should be changed.
“I don’t think the parameters have changed much, but I can perfectly understand both points of view.
“Some folk will say part of the charter states representatives should be paid, and there is some truth to say if you pay people, it gives them the freedom to go on council and represent the people.”
Council chief executive Justine Linley said a typical councillor spent between 20 to 40 hours a week on municipal business.
“There would be very few putting in less than a 20 hours per week,” she said.
“There is quite a significant amount of reading, a council meeting every fortnight and the agendas are not light.
“It is an allowance given for time to civic and public duties and it is set by the state – so government sets the parameters as well.”
