A recent newspaper report states that our Hawkes Bay Regional Councillors – with the exception of Neil Kirton – have agreed to take every cent they can get from the public purse.
Shame on them.
All Napier City Councillors, the Mayor and our Chief Executive, have agreed to take no salary increase. That is our lead to our community. If the Remuneration Authority forces us to take more of your money we will give it back to the community.
Alan Dick is quoted as saying that his increase in remuneration is a cost of living adjustment and not a pay rise as such. Well Alan, for your sake, I hope you were misquoted because you and I know that is absolute rubbish. Tell the pensioners who have seen the interest rates on their savings go from 8% to 3% and therefore their income decimated, that a $3000 increase on an already generous salary of $106,000 is just a cost of living adjustment and not a pay rise as such. It’s just nonsense, isn’t it.
As a Napier City Councillor I work 15 to 20 hours a week and receive $30,000 a year. A Regional Councillor works no harder – no longer hours and yet they receive $43,000 a year. Despite the fact that that is plainly stupid, you can rest assured I am not complaining one little bit. I am delighted to be able to serve my community.
What I am saying is that we – the Napier City Councillors have tried to give a lead in these traumatic economic times and frankly my friends at the Regional Council have chosen not to.
The current economic recession the world is facing is the worst downturn I have seen in 30 years in the financial services industry. It is probably the greatest crisis since 1929 and some would suggest it is worse. How can elected representatives put their hands up for a healthy increase in stipend at such a time.
Ratepayers are hurting. We all need to share the pain. Councillors are also ratepayers and we know – or should know how difficult it is to find the dough to pay the rates bill.
Perhaps Councillors stating they don’t want any increase in salary is purely symbolic but surely it is not a bad lead to give our constituents in these difficult times.
Recent Comments