Wages set for our next Central Coast councillors

When new councillors are finally elected for the Central Coast in September next year, they will each be looking at an annual salary of $34,330.

The new salaries were approved at Council’s general meeting on June 27, with the Mayor to receive $106,960 per annum and the Deputy Mayor to expect $9,980 (to be deducted from the Mayor’s wage) on top of his councillor salary.

If the region were to retain 15 councillors (as it had prior to the sacking of Council) this would see a combined wages figure for elected representatives of $587,580.

If the number of councillors were to be reduced to nine, as it has been recommended by current Administrator Rik Hart, that wages package would reduce to $381,600.

The wages set are the highest amount allowable under the recent annual determination of fees for 2023-24 made by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.

Central Coast Council remains in the category of Major Strategic Area, with the tribunal determining a three per cent increase in the minimum and maximum fees applicable to each category.

The remuneration span for a Major Strategic Area is the same as for a Major Regional City.

Submissions addressing fees sought an increase of 2.5 per cent or greater.

Among reasons cited for an increase were significant workload, responsibilities, capabilities, duties and expanding nature of mayor and councillor roles.

Some submissions also suggested that an increase in remuneration could assist in improving the diversity of potential candidates.

As a point of interest, Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart is currently paid $320,000 per annum – just under three times the newly approved mayoral salary and only $61,600 shy of combined mayoral and councillor wages under a nine-councillor model.

Terry Collins