Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s 2024 pay to soar by more than $8100

The state’s mayors and councillors have been granted pay bumps worth thousands of dollars, with a major rejig of how councils are classified delivering four mayors a five-figure increase. TABLE: HOW MUCH YOUR MAYOR WILL EARN

The state’s mayors and councillors have been granted pay bumps worth thousands of dollars, with a major rejig of how councils are classified delivering four mayors a five-figure increase.

The Local Government Remuneration Commission has made its annual ruling on councillor and mayoral pay, with most local council representatives to be given pay rises of between 3 and 5 per cent.

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But a comprehensive review of how councils are classified – based on revenue, population and geography, projected growth and socio-economic status – has delivered pay rises between 10 and 27 per cent for three local governments.

Charters Towers Mayor, Frank Beveridge, launching the jobs portal and resource guide. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The ruling, which excludes Brisbane City Council, means Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s salary increases from $271,124 to $279,258, an increase of $8134, while his fellow Gold Coast councillors will now earn $166,653 a year as of July 2024.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s salary increases from $271,124 to $279,25. Picture NCA NewsWire/Aaron Francis

The successors of outgoing Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and Logan Mayor Darren Power will earn $252,233 a year, up from the $244,886 their predecessors were getting.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, who will seek a fourth term at the 2024 poll, would be paid $225,206.

The biggest winner of the local government pay bump is Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge, whose annual salary will surge a whopping 27.4 per cent – or $31,438 – to $146,239, up from $114,801.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill will seek a fourth term at the 2024 council elections, and would be paid $225,206 a year if successful. Picture: Shae Beplate

Charters Towers councillors, paid $57,400 a year, will soon get $77,688.

Eight hours down the road at Mount Isa, Mayor Danielle Slade is also in line for a significant 10 per cent pay rise, with her salary from July 2024 to $146,239, up from $132,461.

Mareeba Shire and Somerset regional councils also received the same pay increase as Mount Isa.

The commission in July this year began its once-a-term review of how councils are categorised.

The new framework uses a council’s operating revenue as its base criteria, followed by factors such as population and geography, projected growth and socio-economic status.

“The commission observed that a council’s revenue-raising capacity is influenced by the size of land, population demographics and the extent of service delivery required to be met,” the report stated.

Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade’s salary will rise from July 2024 to $146,239, up from $132,461. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

In coming to its decision, the commission also took into account factors including inflation, increases in the wage price index, and pay increases to Queensland’s public servants and MPs.

The “challenges” faced by local governments in relation to “climate change and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reporting” was also a factor.

Mayors and councillors can opt to be paid less than what the tribunal has ruled, but it requires a motion to pass council.