Yankalilla District Council chief executive Nigel Morris got approval for a Tesla S — but decided to get a Kia
A well-paid boss of a country council got approval to buy one of Elon Musk’s famous electric cars to drive but when one couldn’t be found, a sleek Kia Stinger got the gig.
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The chief executive of a small regional council south of Adelaide has ended up driving a Kia instead one of Tesla boss Elon Musk’s famous electric cars.
The District Council of Yankalilla approved the purchase of a second-hand Tesla S as part of a pay rise for Nigel Morris in February.
The Fleurieu Peninsula council had installed two electric vehicle charging stations which could be used by Mr Morris, who lives in Adelaide.
However, council was unable to find a second-hand Tesla S, once claimed to be the world’s fastest production car capable of reaching 100km/h in 2.6 seconds.
Instead, Mr Morris’ Volkswagen Passatt, also provided by the council, will be replaced with a Kia Stinger.
Mr Morris told the council’s latest meeting he had decided to drive a Kia as part of his $238,680-a-year salary package after deciding the high-end Tesla “wasn’t a good look”.
The former Burnside Council urban services general manager suggested the council provide a Tesla S during salary negotiations earlier this year, after a review committee recommended giving him a 2 per cent pay rise.
According to a confidential council report, Mr Morris had received a 4 per cent increase — or $9000 — in late 2017, taking his total package to $234,000. It includes a $10,000 vehicle allowance which Mr Morris pays for private use.
“The (review) committee, in discussions with the chief executive, wanted to further reward the chief executive and discussed non-financial options, including increasing the annual leave available from the standard four weeks,” said the report.
“The chief executive put forward a proposal that he be allowed to purchase a second-hand electric vehicle, a Tesla Model S, on change over of his current fully maintained vehicle.
“The second-hand option was suggested to avoid the luxury tax and to dramatically reduce the purchase price.”
The report said Mr Morris’ Passat had cost council $55,000 while a second-hand Tesla S was expected to cost between $80,000 to $100,000.
While both vehicles would drop in value by around $15,000 when they were traded in, it said “the major difference is in the running costs”.
“A Tesla recharge from being flat is approximately $3.50 and will allow the car to travel approximately 500 kilometres,” said the report.
“However, with council installing a 60kW solar system, electricity during the day when the chief executive would typically recharge is coming straight from the sun at minimal cost.”
The report said Mr Morris, who became chief executive in 2015, could use the charging stations at its offices on Charles St, Yankalilla.
If Mr Morris chose to recharge the Tesla S at his home in Adelaide, “this would be done at his own cost”.
Recommending that Mr Morris “be given authority to choose a second-hand Tesla S”, the report said the purchase of the vehicle “promotes the clean, green, environmentally friendly message that council finds important”.
However, Mr Morris changed his mind, deciding instead to get a Kia. The decision was communicated to council in a report last month.
“The chief executive was concerned of the overall cost to council and the perception to the community on the dearer car,” it said.
“(He) has decided not to proceed with the Tesla Model S purchase and has just ordered a new Kia car at a cost approximately $2000 more than his existing car.”
Mr Morris told The Advertiser he had decided against getting a Tesla S even though it had been approved by council “because it wasn’t a good look”.
The Local Government Professionals SA president said Yankalilla Council wanted to promote environmentally friendly policies, which had led to the installation of the charging machines.
“The idea of a second-hand Tesla Model S electric vehicle was briefly discussed because of its environmental credentials but quickly dismissed after we determined it was not financially viable,” he said.
“Last month I replaced my previous Volkswagen with a new Kia, which cost $2000 more than my previous vehicle purchased in 2017.
“I also remain with (my previous) entitlements of four weeks annual leave per year.”
Mayor Glen Rowlands said he had discussed electric-vehicle options with Mr Morris before they decided on the Kia.
“We talked about a second-hand Tesla and he asked ‘if we can find one how would you feel’,” he said.
“He ended up choosing to drive a Kia because it was a lot cheaper.”
Yankalilla Council has 5500 ratepayers and covers the bottom half of the Fleurieu Peninsula, including Yankalilla, Normanville, Carrackalinga, Second Valley and Rapid Bay.
More than half of its dwellings are holiday homes.
Council has been criticised by ratepayers for charging some of the highest rates on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It is expected to remain in deficit for the next four years.