COUNCILLORS around the state, including in Swan Hill, are in for a rise in payments in recognition of their evolving role and workload.
Swan Hill Rural City Council acting chief executive Rosanne Kava said the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal had taken into consideration “the substantial change in the roles, responsibilities and workload of council members since their allowances were last reviewed”.
In Swan Hill, retrospectively from December 18, the mayor will now earn an allowance of $96,470, up from $81,204.
The deputy mayor is set to receive $48,235 and councillors $30,024 (up from $26,245).
By 2026, these figures are set to increase to $107,189, $53,595 and $31,756 respectively.
A council spokesperson said at Swan Hill Rural City Council level there were no previous plans to increase allowance after an August 2021 council meeting decision to halt any increase due to the economic situation as a result of the COVID-19 response.
“This now obviously has to change,” the spokesperson told The Guardian.
Ms Kava said the determination by the independent body, in accordance with the new Local Government Act (2020), set a base allowance for each council member.
“The value of the base allowance payable to a council member varies depending on the role (mayor, deputy mayor or councillor) and the council allowance category assigned to the council, as specified in the determination,” she said.
“This provides for further scheduled annual increases to allowance values until 18 December 2025.”
The next increase will take effect on December 18 this year.
There is also a remote travel allowance with specific eligibility criteria, which Ms Kava said was “of particular importance due to our municipality’s location”.
“Ahead of the tribunal’s decision, interested persons or bodies were invited to make submissions to ensure those that wanted to have input had the opportunity,” she said.
The State Government sets allowances paid to council members and each of Victoria’s 79 councils are divided into categories based on income and population.
Swan Hill Council is recognised as a category 2 council, as is Mildura Rural City Council and Greater Shepparton, while category 1 councils include the Gannawarra and Buloke shires.
Category 3 applies to councils covering bigger populations such the Greater Bendigo City Council, Ballarat City Council and Yarra City Council, with a fourth category, and the highest pay rate, for Melbourne City Council.
More information is available at vic.gov.au/allowances-mayors-deputy-mayors-and-councillors.
