Gold Coast City Council annual report reveals how much Crs and executives are paid

NEW data reveals how much the Gold Coast’s councillors and bureaucrats are getting paid and the costs are in the millions. But the mayor says things are about to change.

The 2016-2020 Gold Coast City Council. Photo: Jerad Williams

EIGHT council executives are paid more than Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, council data reveals.

In the 2016-17 financial year, Cr Tate earned $266,106, including 12 per cent superannuation, as part of a total councillor wage bill of $2.5 million.

The council’s annual report for the 2016-17 financial year reveals chief executive Dale Dickson is paid between $500,000-600,000, up from the $350-360,000 he earned five years earlier.

AXE TO COUNCIL JOBS AND COMMITTEE HEADS

How much your councillors earn — Mayor and Divisions 1-8

How much your councillors earn — Mayor and Divisions 6-12

Another seven executives were paid $300,000-400,000, including chief operating officer Joe McCabe, infrastructure director Alton Twine, community services director Alison Ewens, organisational services director Glen Potter and Gold Coast water director Paul Heaton.

Cr Tate said the money spent on executive remunerations would drop in the following financial year after the departure of long-serving economic development director Darren Scott and planning director Dyan Currie, whose roles are expected to be merged.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate Picture Mike Batterham

“It was always my intention to restructure the organisation and do it the right way and this now means the executives at the top level will have to work across multiple disciplines,” he said.

“It’s like being on a rowing team and when everyone is putting their backs in it the boat goes a lot faster.

“My attitude now is that there are no passengers on this ship at the executive level.”

Darren Scott departed from the council last year.

Cr Tate said executive bonuses had also been scrapped.

Former mayor Ron Clarke was given $149,000 a year late in his reign. More than 30 staff were on at least $140,000 at that time.

The 2016-17 council report also shows the city’s 15 councillors charged $102,846 in expenses to ratepayers, including more than $22,000 for mobile phones.

Councillor expenses, Mayor and Divisions 1-7

Councillor expenses, Divisions 6-12

The most frugal councillors are Helensvale’s William Owen-Jones and Carrara’s Bob La Castra, who spent $1409 and $1620 respectively.

The highest spenders were Mudgeeraba’s Glenn Tozer, Labrador’s Kristyn Boulton and Mayor Tom Tate, who spend $12,598, $11,081 and $10,369 respectively.

Bob La Castra. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr La Castra, who in previous years has been the city’s lowest spending political leader, said it was important for elected officials to be careful with their spending.

The 21-year city hall veteran, who famously spent just $3.48 on stationary in the 2014-15 financial year, said he only spent money on “the essentials”.

“The way I look at it is that it is public money and you have to be careful in how you spend it,” he said.

“Some other councillors may have a different way of doing things.”