Modest pay packets are restricting the type, and age, of people wanting to become a councillor, which isn’t ideal for democracy, Bendigo’s mayor believes.
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The state government in December approved a two per cent increase to mayoral and councillor allowances across Victoria, meaning Bendigo councillors could earn up to $30,223 in 2017-18.
This figure, which does not include a 9.5 per cent superannuation contribution, is eclipsed by the mayoral salary of up to $96,534 per year.
“It’s prohibitive for young people. That allowance doesn't allow them to just be a councillor,” mayor Margaret O’Rourke said.
“We're representing young people, people of all ages, but the remuneration probably only gives the older demographic the opportunity.”
Bendigo’s youngest councillor James Reade was elected as a 19-year-old in 2008, but there has been a dearth of young representatives since.
“I would say a councillor’s allowance is low for what they do,” Cr O’Rourke said, suggesting the mayoral salary was fair.
“You will get some people in the community saying that’s what public office is about, you put your hand up to do it.
“People aren’t doing it for the money but they are doing it because they want to make the community better.”
The majority of Bendigo councillors juggle some form of work with their role, aside from councillors James Williams and Rod Fyffe.
Cr Williams said, based on the amount of hours he worked per week, “the remuneration per hour is quite low”.
A councillor in pre-amalgamation times, Cr Williams said the volume of work required by councillors to do their job properly has increased significantly over the years.
“We’re experiencing rapid growth as a city, there’s so much to get your head around,” he said.
Bendigo councillors are in the highest-paid tier of local government, of which there are three.
The lowest-paid councillors, which includes Mount Alexander and Buloke Shire, can earn as much as $20,231.
Councillors are also reimbursed for travel, training and other expenses incurred as part of their role.
Bendigo councillor George Flack requested 10 per cent of his allowance for the 2016-17 financial year be reduced as a cost-cutting measure, while the other councillors claimed close to all of their entitlement.
Local government minister Marlene Kairouz said serving as a councillor was a voluntary part-time role and the annually-adjusted allowance was not intended as a salary.
This year’s adjustment is the lowest increase since 2010.
