Bega Valley Shire councillors voted to award themselves the maximum possible at the meeting on Wednesday, June 29 with just one councillor, Russell Fitzpatrick, voting against the pay increase.
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The vote means that councillors will receive $18,840 and the mayor will receive $41,090 in the year 2016/17.
Speaking for the motion to increase fees, councillor Kristy McBain said that being a councillor could be quite onerous and that she fielded calls out of hours and at weekends. Cr McBain said that council needed to increase the remuneration to encourage young people to be involved in council.
Councillor Liz Seckold agreed saying that she worked 30-40 hours a week on council matters and that made it not a very good hourly rate.
Cr Fitzpatrick, who said he never voted for the increase said he did not believe that an increased fee would necessarily attract people and that it was important people came to council for the right reasons.
Councillors are also entitled to claim reimbursement for expenses incurred in carrying out their elected duties in accordance with council’s policy.
