Waikato District councillors get pay increases
The Remuneration Authority has raised the remuneration for Waikato District councillors, but community board members are not happy.
Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson will pocket an extra $18,000 in the next financial year after Waikato District councillors endorsed proposed salary changes on Tuesday.
This came as a result of the Remuneration Authority decision to set Waikato District’s salary pool at $634,522.
The Remuneration Authority is tasked with setting the upper limit of salaries for local elected authorities but Waikato District CEO Gavin Ion said that he did not feel that the authority had correctly assessed the Council properly in this latest salary pool allocation.
“I didn’t feel they had taken adequate consideration of the factors so I raised it with the Remuneration Authority,” Mr Ion said.
“I asked them if it was fair and equitable and they simply came back and said they were reviewing the system under which they do remuneration.”
“I just feel concerned that if no change comes out of this process that councillors will be short changed.”
The endorsed changes will increase the pay packet of the deputy mayor by $11,000 and councillors will get an extra $7000 a year.
Community Board members will have small increases, between $100 to $200 more annually.
Onewhero – Tuakau Community Board will miss out altogether with a decrease in the compensation members receive.
Taupiri Community Board member Fred Hansen noted his frustrations at what he believes to be an unfair remuneration for the Community Boards.
“I don’t consider that [Community Board members] should be paid anywhere near the councillors but if you have a look at the pays or remuneration we are getting, it’s very low.”
“I know that they can’t pay any more but when we stay approximately the same as before and the council gets an increase in wages I don’t think it relates fairly.”
The new salaries will come into effect on 1 July.
