Maribyrnong Council staff reject coronavirus salary freeze

Maribyrnong Council has baulked at the suggestion its hardworking staff, including its chief executive who pockets more than $300,000 a year, cop a wage cut. Residents made the request hoping it might ease the burden on ratepayers during COVID.

Maribyrnong Council staff and councillors have rejected a proposal they freeze or cut their wages to ease the burden on struggling ratepayers.

Maribyrnong Council has flatly refused a suggestion to freeze or reduce staff and councillors’ wages as the community struggles to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

The Maribyrnong Residents & Ratepayers’ Facebook group suggested the move in the hope it would ease the rates burden on locals who’d lost their jobs.

Yarraville resident Verity Webb, a member of the Facebook group, called on the council at Tuesday night’s meeting to be transparent with ratepayers about their option to seek a rates waiver.

Ms Webb told the Leader before the meeting that the council only published information on rates deferrals and payment plans on its website, but locals deserved to know they didn’t have to pay their rates if they were struggling.

Unemployment across Maribyrnong has skyrocketed to 8.9 per cent, according to Tuesday’s meeting agenda, and the council predicts the pandemic could cost its budget up to $21 million.

The council budgeted $58.2 million on staff wages last financial year and has budgeted $54.6 million for salaries this year, according to figures provided by the council.

Chief executive Stephen Wall pockets an annual income of at least $330,000, while councillors earn about $28,000 per year.

“This year people don’t have jobs, they don’t have wages to use to pay their rates,” Ms Webb said.

“When we ask the council to not spend money on things or to make cut backs, they (ratepayers) are treated like dirt.

“I wouldn’t ask anyone anything I wasn’t prepared to do myself, It’s about setting an example rather than just talking hollow words.”

Council chief executive Stephen Wall told last night’s meeting information about rate waivers could be found on the back of ratepayers’ rates notices.

Councillor Mia McGregor said it would be a good idea to review information in the council’s online hardship application form to ensure it was user friendly and provided all the information people needed.

Maribyrnong Council froze rates this year in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, a move that’s expected to save ratepayers $1.95 million.

It has also earmarked $6.5 million for business and community relief packages.

But Ms Webb said this wasn’t enough and the council should be doing more to help stressed out ratepayers’.

Maribyrnong Mayor Sarah Carter said at last month’s council meeting it would be unjust to suggest hardworking councillors cop a hit to their salary, according to minutes from the meeting tabled on Tuesday night.

Mr Wall also said at the meeting last month that council staff would not be asked to take a pay cut. Staff salaries rose this financial year by 2.25 per cent

Visit the council’s website for further information about its COVID-19 hardship plan.

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