Whangarei District Mayor Morris Cutforth will receive a $6000 pay rise in July, but his council colleagues will not be so fortunate.
The recommendation to increase the mayor's remuneration has come from the Remuneration Authority, an independent statutory body responsible for determining remuneration levels for Members of Parliament and elected members of local authorities.
The recommendation, which if adopted at a council meeting on Wednesday, will see the mayor's annual honorarium go from $112,600 to $118,800 - a 5.5 per cent rise.
The mayor's remuneration includes the use of a vehicle and communication costs.
The Remuneration Authority has also recommended that the remuneration pool for elected members stay at its current level. This means councillors will remain on $41,147, while the deputy mayor and three committee chairs will all remain on $51,434.
Mr Cutforth said he was aware of the pay rise and was comfortable with it.
"That's what people decide I'm worth, so I've got to accept it.
"I think the people of Whangarei get good value from me in many regards, in the sense that I work very long hours."
"Right up to the time I got sick [in early February], I was working 60 to 80 hours a week, and even now I'm working 20 hours a week in spite of my doctor's instructions."
Mr Cutforth was instructed by his doctor to work no more than two hours a day, after he suffered a minor stroke in February.
He said he probably would not attend Wednesday's full council meeting, which he anticipated would be one of the most exciting council meetings since he took office.
"The doctors have told me to keep away from that sort of stressful situation," he said.
Several high-profile projects are on the agenda for Wednesday's meeting, including the controversial Hundertwasser Art Centre project, the $29 million Lower Hatea River Crossing project, a report on the future of rail in Northland, and the elected member remuneration recommendations.
Mr Cutforth said he was in the loop regarding the agenda items.
"I do know where the council wants to go on all these issues," he said.
Whangarei District Mayor Morris Cutforth gets 5 per cent pay rise
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