Elected members in Southland and Invercargill are set to receive pay rises, with some receiving bigger increases than others.
The Southland District Council met to decide how to divide a fixed salary pool assigned by the national Remuneration Authority. The mayor's pay is excluded from this decision, as it is set directly by the Authority.
Councillors’ pay will rise from $40,843 to $41,360. Deputy Mayor Christine Menzies will receive a more substantial increase, with her salary going from $53,096 to $62,040. A report prepared for the meeting said this amount was 1.5 times the base councillor rate and noted her responsibilities would likely grow in the current term.
Mayor Rob Scott’s salary has risen from $145,222 to $152,473, with this figure being determined by the Remuneration Authority rather than the council itself.
Scott addressed the issue during the meeting, saying some media outlets had been “having some fun” with the idea of councillors setting their own pay. However, he explained the funding pool was allocated in Wellington and councils were required to fully allocate it.
Invercargill City Council also held its pay discussion the day before.