Councillors reject pay rise

A GREATER Dandenong councillor says he will forego a proposed wage increase.
Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon this week said a 30 per cent wage increase, from $18,000 to $23,400, would burden ratepayers who could instead do with the money.
The rise is being proposed by the state’s Local Government Minister Richard Wynne.
“I will forego this increase due to the number of residents I meet in our community, through my work with Springvale Benevolent Society, who are struggling to make ends meet,” Cr Gordon said in a letter to the Star.
“I feel, as councillor and being actively involved in the local community, it is important to show the residents of our city it is not all about money.
“I became a councillor to work for the residents and the allowance is adequate, considering the role is only part-time.
”I don’t wish to create an extra burden for the ratepayers, considering the recent increases in interest rates plus many other increases in other household expenses.”
Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades said if the council accepted the increase, she would give the difference between her current wage and the new wage to community groups.
“I think we already get enough,” she said.
“We already get a mobile phone for council calls and we have had our own computers for a while now.”