Darebin Council staff costs blow out by $7 million

Staff at Darebin Council will pocket a collective $7 million payrise next year, with the average worker taking home six figures — and more than half the council’s spending is on its own employees. So who’s earning the big, big bucks?

The average salary for a permanent employee at Darebin Council will reach $100,875.

The Darebin Council wage bill will jump almost $7 million over the next 12 months, making the average salary per permanent employee $100,875.

Figures from the 2019/20 draft budget reveal total staff costs will jump to $87.1 million.

These costs will make up more than 50 per cent of the total council expenditure.

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The single year jump is double the expected increase over the next three years.

Darebin CEO Sue Wilkinson is one of three employees averaging $194,666.

And the number of full time equivalent employees increases just 0.6 to 771.8, the equivalent of a part-time employee working three days a week.

The top earners are the chief executive department, where three full time employees will collect an average of $194,666.

Next best work is governance and engagement, where the 111 full time employees will earn an average of $116,255.

Worst-off is the operations and capital department, where 177 full time employees will collect the paltry average sum of $97,158.

Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis said council wages were excessive and his group had frequently raised the issue of “snouts in the trough” with the State Government.

The ratepayers group have lobbied for an independent body to monitor the cost of rising wages.

“It is time ratepayers united. We urge ratepayers to support their local ratepayers groups and attend council meetings and voice your concerns,” Mr Davis said.

Darebin Council staff costs are predicted to continue their rise to $92.8 million in 2022/23 while budgeting for the same number of employees.

A 2018 breakdown of council budgets across Melbourne and Geelong found the cost of council staff had increased by more than $500 million in five years.

Darebin Council did not respond by deadline.

@richardapearce