Council settles on new pay rates | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

IT was a case of getting the good news and the bad news for Masterton district councillors this week.

Councillors have settled on how much pay they will get for being the eyes and ears of the people, within the limits set by the Remuneration Authority, and will be able to book up any necessary air travel and accommodation for away-trips to the council.

But they will not be able to claim money back for booze, taking their partners on trips or for paying speeding or parking fines.

Masterton Mayor Bob Francis will receive a salary of $60,058 and will no longer have a mayoral car supplied.

His deputy and chairman of the policy and finance committee Garry Daniell will receive $29,320 and resource management committee chairman Chris Peterson will get $23,456.

Councillor Jane Terpstra, who chairs the hearings committee which meets irregularly during the year, will be paid $18,325 and task group chairmen will get $16,126.

Meeting fees no longer apply for councillors, who will now get $14,660, about the average paid out to them last year under the combined honorarium and meeting fees structure.

Chief executive Wes ten Hove said the "guiding principle" on the reimbursement of expenses is that councillors should not be out-of-pocket for costs incurred on official business.

Should they use their own car for council business they will need to maintain a log book and will be reimbursed at 70c a km.

The tax department has ruled that elected members are not employees of council for taxation purposes and so withholding tax is deducted at the rate of 33c in the dollar.