Two pay rises in six months for WCC!

Stuff reports:

Wellington city councillors have voted unanimously to increase their pay for the second time this year.

All 14 councillors and Wellington Mayor Justin Lester gave a thumbs-up to the new pay structure on Wednesday, at their first proper meeting since October’s election.

Councillors not in charge of any committee will get an extra $3429 before tax, while deputy mayor Paul Eagle will get $2260 more than Lester did when he was second-in-command to Celia Wade-Brown.

As chairwoman of the newly formed city strategy committee, Iona Pannett will also receive $1083 more than a committee chairperson under the previous council. Her committee takes on the responsibilities of three separate committees under the old council.

The council last voted to increase its pay in May – again, unanimously – which took the annual salaries of councillors with portfolios up from $85,325 to $86,605. Wednesday’s vote bumps it up to $90,050.

So up $5,000 in just six months.