Dame Susan Devoy: Councillors, times are tough

My heart goes out to those hard-working Tauranga city councillors who this week voted themselves a 0.8 per cent pay rise without debate.
I don't imagine it ever crossed their minds to put it towards reducing the city's massive debt.
As Cr Murray Guy said, the amount paid to councillors is determined by the Remuneration Authority and it was up to councillors only to distribute among themselves.
I believe the number of elected members was reduced not so long ago, at their recommendation.
It would be interesting to know whether the ratepayer-funded pool was reduced to reflect that or was it simply a case of sharing the same amount amongst fewer people?
An 0.8 per cent increase isn't exactly earth-shattering stuff, states Cr Guy. Tell that to the thousands of workers in Tauranga struggling to survive on the minimum wage. I imagine anything extra in these difficult times would be akin to winning Lotto.
Ironically, Tauranga City Council's newly appointed chief executive, Ken Paterson, has been given the task of helping to find new and better ways to do things for our city - and at $86,000 less than what former CEO Stephen Town got paid.
I'm sure it isn't because Mr Paterson is any less qualified than Stephen but a reflection of the times and the belief that the community expects the council to continue to find savings and efficiencies.
I have no doubt that councillors work hard and it is not a typical 9 to 5 role, but let's remember that it was their choice to serve the community.
I was pleased to read that Cr Grainger said 100 per cent of his time went towards his council duties. Isn't that what we as ratepayers would expect of the people we elect to govern our city? I would argue that if any of them are in it for the money then they are in it for the wrong reasons.
The council is constituted under the Local Government Act 2002 to maintain or enhance the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of the people of Tauranga. That certainly sounds like a fulltime job to me and highlights the significance that council is not just about roads, rubbish and sewerage.
Murray Guy believes that the councillors' salaries needed to be compared with senior management roles at companies. Given that he didn't need a job interview to become a councillor I can just see Rob Fyfe from Air New Zealand banging down doors to offer Murray a senior management role.
The council has some serious issues to address. Councillors need to cut expenditure and at the same time continue to provide the services we expect as ratepayers. They need to increase their funding streams which will obviously be reflected in an increase in rates as it is unlikely they will be able to find alternative funding streams in these difficult economic times.
Some of the mess we are in is historical, the result of a significant under-investment in infrastructure, dare I say by past councils.
But given that many of the councillors have been there for years, surely some responsibility lies with them.
If they can sort all this out then no doubt they will be worth any pay increase. They may even be worth a bonus.