Albury mayor Kevin Mack is the biggest financial beneficiary of a review of council categories carried out by a NSW government entity, the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.
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With the upgrade from a regional rural to regional centre council, Cr Mack's mayoral wage jumps from $44,250 to $60,080 in addition to the increased councillor wage which also rises from $20,280 to $24,320.
The pay increases were ticked off by councillors this week when deputy mayor Amanda Cohn once again abstained from voting on councillor wages.
Her move has been challenged by Cr Henk van de Ven in a social media post following the meeting.
"Cr Cohn has chosen to abstain, and that is equivalent to voting against the increase, but Cr Cohn will still accept the increase, but can claim publicly that she did not vote for it," he said.
"To keep Cr Cohn honest, if she can prove to my satisfaction that she has not taken her increase this financial year, and instead has donated it to charity.
"I will also contribute my increase for this year to charity."
Cr Cohn said she already donated her councillor wage increases to charity due to her long-standing belief councillors should not be voting on their pay.
"It makes me very uncomfortable to be engaging in a competition regarding contributions to charity as this is an inherently privileged activity," she said.
"I am very fortunate to be in a position where outside of council I am employed as a professional and don't have any dependents.
"I understand that many excellent local government councillors across NSW depend on their allowance to support themselves and others."
Cr Murray King said the mayor's pay rise was deserved, particularly due to his efforts during the coronavirus crisis.
"He has done a sterling and stellar job," he said.
"His remuneration is totally inadequate to the effort he has put in.
"I'm very proud to be a member of Albury Council under mayor Cr Kevin Mack.
"He is worth every cent."
Cr Graham Docksey highlighted the Albury increases were still short of payments made to Wodonga councillors.