Circulars

What’s new or changing?

• The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal (the Tribunal) has determined an increase of 2.5% to mayoral and councillor fees for the 2019/20 financial year, with effect from 1 July 2019.
• The Tribunal did not undertake a broad review of the categorisation of councils and considered only those requests where an individual submission was made. The Tribunal found that the current allocation of councils into the current categories is appropriate.
• The Tribunal will next consider the model, the criteria applicable to each group and the allocation of councils in detail in 2020.

What this will mean for your council

• Sections 248 and 249 of the Local Government Act 1993 require councils to fix and pay an annual fee based on the Tribunal’s determination of 2.5% for the 2019/20 financial year.

Key points

• The level of fees paid will depend on the category the council is in.
• A council cannot fix a fee higher than the maximum amount determined by the Tribunal.
• If a council does not fix a fee, the council must pay the minimum fee determined by the Tribunal.

Where to go for further information

• The Tribunal’s report and determination is available on the Office of Local Government’s website www.olg.nsw.gov.au and on the NSW Remuneration Tribunal’s website www.remtribunals.nsw.gov.au.

Tim Hurst

Chief Executive