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Resources and Time Commitments
How much
time does it take and do councillors get paid?
The role of a councillor
involves several hours each week for formal duties and many more hours for
informal duties such as meeting with constituents and attending community
functions.
The time commitment varies
but it could require a core commitment of 15 to 25 hours a week.
Some councillors may be able
to devote more hours. Councillors should expect to attend at least one meeting
per week.
Formal council meetings are
held at least once a month, however, council may have committee meetings or
other activities, which form a regular schedule. Councillors often nominate for
a particular committee responsibility, which holds separate committee meetings.
Regular council and committee
meetings may take up more than one night each week. It is unlikely that
councillors will be fulfilling their elected duties every night of the week.
Night functions are shared with other councillors to avoid overload.
There may also be involvement
in external organisations, for example with neighborhood house committees and
school and recreational committees. These committees meet at the discretion of their
membership.
Many councillors retain their
full-time employment and undertake the role of councillor in their own time.
Partners of councillors are not expected to attend all civic events and receptions;
however, an invitation is often extended to them.
Councillors are not
considered employees of their council and do not receive employment benefits
such as a salary and leave entitlements.
Councillors receive an
allowance as fixed by an Order in Council, which takes effect from 29 November
2008.
Each council determines the
amount to be paid to councillors within specified limits set by the State
Government. These limits vary depending on the revenue and population base of
each council. Mayors receive a larger allowance due to their increased workload
and role.
Category 1 allowances are set
at $6,500 to $15,700 and up to $47,000 for the mayor; Category 2 from $8,100 to
$19,600 and up to $60,700 for the mayor; and Category 3 from $9,800 to $23,500
and up to $75,000 for the mayor. The list of councils in each category can be
found at: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au
The allowances increase annually
in line with changes to the Victorian Statutory and Executive Officers’
payments. This has averaged around 3.5 per cent per annum. An amount equal to
the superannuation guarantee (9%) is payable on top of the councillor allowance.
Councillors who reside in
remote areas can be paid an additional allowance of $40 for each day they
attend authorised meetings or functions. A maximum payment that can be received
by a councillor under this provision is $5,000 per annum.
Councils are required to
provide administrative support, resources, facilities and reimbursement of a
councillor’s travel and out-of-pocket expenses. These include:
administrative support, an
office and a vehicle for the mayor; a computer, mobile phone, landline phone,
stationery, access to a fax machine and photocopier for all councillors
(including the mayor); and the
reimbursement of travel, phone, internet and childcare expenses for all
councillors.
In addition, council can
decide whether to provide a pool vehicle and access to office space and
furniture for councillors.
Income equivalent to a
councillor’s allowance will need to be included in taxation returns.
Superannuation contributions to a complying fund do not represent assessable
income. Councillors are also entitled to deduct expenses relevant to their
election costs and activities as a councillor.
The Australian Taxation
Office sets limits for election expenses that can be deducted from a
candidate’s income tax.
For
further information on taxation of councillor allowances and candidate
expenses, please contact the ATO on 13 28 61.
