RELATED: Councillors vote for full pay
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City of Greater Bendigo councillor George Flack has voluntarily reduced his allowances, deeming it “sound financial judgement” in tough economic times.
The accountant and financial planner made a formal submission for all councillors to accept a 10 per cent pay cut.
He was the only councillor at Wednesday’s meeting opposed to receiving the maximum allowance, which rose by 2.5 per cent on December 1 to $29,630 per councillor and $94,621 for the mayor.
Council had already budgeted for the maximum allowances to be paid.
Though unavailable for comment, Cr Flack wrote in a letter to the Bendigo Advertiser that the pay cut was a “matter of principle in these times of economic hardship.”
“This does not have anything to do with how many hours or what types of jobs a councillor performs,” he wrote.
“It’s about the principle of leading by example.”
The Eppalock Ward representative wrote that he firmly believed it set the “correct format going forward for demonstrating a preparedness to exercise fiscal and financial responsibility in every aspect of future council budgets, good governance, leadership, responsible financial restraint, strong moral judgement and financial ethics to our community.”
Cr Flack’s application for his allowance to be reduced by 10 per cent was accepted, effective from January 19.
His was one of two submissions for councillors to reduce their remunerations.
A submission by William Collier suggested a 10 per cent reduction to any proposed rise in councillor and mayoral allowances.
Councillor Yvonne Wrigglesworth told those at the meeting a councillor allowance was “just that,” an allowance for councillors’ time, effort and expenditure.
“Considering such an incredibly demanding and professional public service role... and the suggestion of a 10 per cent cut is not going to do anything for the bottom line... there are definitely efficiencies to be made elsewhere, but not with councillor allowances,” she said.