COUNCILLORS have resolved to increase their pay by 2.5 per cent in the new financial year.
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Councillors are currently paid $10,490 per year - the maximum amount allowable under the rural category the shire falls into.
The mayor receives an additional $22,870 on top of his councillor fee.
Councillor fees will rise to $10,740 in 2014-15 while the mayor’s fee will rise to $23,440, meaning he will earn a total of $34,180.
The minimum fee for a rural category council in 2014-15 would be $8,130 for a councillor and $8,640 for the mayor, again on top of his councillor fee.
Three councillors, Tony Tersteeg, Katheryn Smith and James Hooke, voted against a pay rise.
“At the last meeting we resolved to raise rates by 18 per cent now we’re looking to increase our fees,” Cr Tersteeg said.
“I don’t think it would be viewed in a good light - it’s only a couple of hundred dollars but I think the community would look at it very unfavourably.”
But mayor John Rosenbaum disagreed.
“I think if you don’t take it, it becomes a problem down the track,” he said.