The NSW Government is currently undertaking a review of general manager and senior staff contracts within councils to ensure value for money for ratepayers.
Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, has confirmed that in 2020 she requested the Office of Local Government to undertake the review.
“Hard-earned ratepayer dollars ought to be spent on local infrastructure and services and not on over-inflated salaries of senior management,” she said.
“Given independent arbitrators set the remuneration of senior public servants, Ministers and Members of Parliament, as well as Mayors and councillors, the government is strongly considering mandating salaries of general managers to be set independently of elected councillors.
“Councils should be remunerating general managers in line with their duties, skills and experience as well as community expectations.”
A spokesperson for Minister Hancock said the Office of Local Government would issue further information about the review in the next month.
Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said he couldn’t comment because it was a matter for the Office of Local Government which was running the review, and he was awaiting the outcome of that review once finalised.
The review is due to be finalised in the first half of 2021.
Sue Murray