Hefty pay rise irks Masterton councillors

From July 1 councillors would receive a base salary increase of 5.3 per cent except for mayor Lyn Patterson whose increase would be slightly less at 5 per cent.

Masterton district councillors seem set to get a hefty pay rise whether they like it or not, and judging from debate around the council table this week they don't like it.

At the Policy and Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, a report prepared by finance manager David Paris alerted councillors to a pay rise imposed on them by the Remuneration Authority.

This showed that from July 1 councillors would receive a base salary increase of 5.3 per cent except for mayor Lyn Patterson whose increase would be slightly less at 5 per cent.

This would bring Mrs Patterson's mayoral salary, including her role as chairwoman of Policy and Finance, to $92,400. Deputy mayor and chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee Graham McClymont moves to $31,416. Councillors who chair task groups, Gary Caffell, Pip Hannon, Chris Peterson and Doug Bracewell see an increase from $25,990 to $27,370.

Councillor David Holmes will receive $29,293 recognising his role as chair of the Economic Development Task Group and as council's Whaitua representative and councillor Jonathan Hooker will get $29,750 as chairman of the Hearings Committee and Maori Liaison task group.

Brent Goodwin, Mark Harris and Simon O'Donoghue will get the base salary of $23,800.

Councillors at the meeting spoke of the unfairness of the increases especially as they are well above what other workers are to get, and in advance of the cost of living.

Brent Goodwin said the percentage increases were " unjustifiable".

Gary Caffell said most councillors held jobs outside of council and would be "dancing in the street" if their employers gave them a 5 per cent increase.

A letter is to be sent to the Remuneration Authority saying the council supports moves to review the way salaries, which are not contestable, are set.