Tuesday's decision of a majority of Eurobodalla councillors to vote themselves a pay rise will be a bitter pill for many in the community.
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In a good year, most voters would not mind, but in a year when the council has gone to the rates referee and asked for an extra rate rise, over three years, the decision smacks of hypocrisy.
It is interesting that only the three women on the council felt uncomfortable with this decision - Crs Liz Innes, Danielle Brice and Gabi Harding.
When this council was first elected, the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner interviewed this trio and asked if they thought common-ground could be built across political divides.
Their election rebalanced a council which had been all-male for years, out of step with other local governments in NSW.
Common ground has not always been the case, but yesterday, this trio did find common cause, on a matter dear to ratepayers’ hip-pockets.
The pay rises are modest and local government representatives do not rank among the filthy rich, unless their money comes from elsewhere.
However, many will see it as a more than a bit rich for councillors to, with one hand, yank on ratepayers’ already tight belts while, with the other, awarding themselves a pay rise.
This is not rocket science.
Last year, councillors voted to go without a pay rise, instead donating the money to a good shire cause.
That was commendable.
In a year when ratepayers have been asked to swallow three rate rises in a row, many will believe councillors could, should, have swallowed two in a row.
Yes, some work long hours and drive all over the shire to attend functions on weekends and evenings, but now was not the time to ask for more.
What were they thinking?