GUNNEDAH Shire Council’s mayoral and councillor fees for the next financial year have been set in line with the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal’s determination.
The new fees will see councillors receive $19,590 for 2026–27, up from $18,210 in 2025–26.
The additional mayoral fee will be set at $42,030, up from $39,063.
Gunnedah Shire sits in the second-to-last tier for the remuneration of non-metropolitan councils and is classed as ‘rural large’. NSW councillor and mayoral fees are significantly less than remuneration offered in neighbouring states, data shows.
In Queensland, a recent remuneration report showed that the base annual fee for a councillor started at almost $60,000 and was as high as more than $170,000 in some council categories.
Mayoral fees ranged from almost $120,000 to almost $280,000.
Other neighbouring states also offer higher remuneration to elected members.
Cr Linda Newell told the meeting that the matter to adopt new fees sat uncomfortably with her.
“Given we’ve put our community through an SRV (special rate variation),” she said.
“I’m coming from a position where, financially, I’m older in my life, so I’m a bit more comfortable, maybe.
“I’d like to see more people come on to council and make this something that’s financially not … draining them.
“I know financially personally that I’m losing money by being on council.
“But at the same time, I feel very uncomfortable. So it’s more a conscience vote for me.”
Cr Cameron Moore acknowledged that the time spent being part of meetings and committees as well as other councillor duties meant that the remuneration was modest.
“We do want people to be able to join this room and contribute to the community,” he said.
The recommendation to adopt the new councillor fees was carried with one vote against.
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