Council general managers on big bucks with salary packages of up to $340,000

EDITOR’S NOTE

There is something to be said about the complexity of GMs’ jobs. That is that over time GM’s have been building administration empires with almost the sole purpose in mind being to build upon their salary packages. With a population base static at about 500,000 the only way to grow the pie is to grow the job and do it quietly.

It is unlikely that Tasmanians will see the administrative wing of their local governments arguing for amalgamations, that is seriously arguing for amalgamations. General Mangagers in particular have too much at stake since there are too many of them doing what fewer, many fewer, could do much better.

There would be a PhD Thesis in demonstrating that this theory had substance and if the State Government was serious about curtailing the cost of Local Government it would fund such a PhD or a Post Doctoral Fellowship.

All this has been happening under successive State Governments of all political complexions and evolving Council memberships. Thewre is nothing like self belief to add weight to an argument! There may well be something insidious to be discovered through independent academic research that is unlikely to see the light of day through government initiated research.

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NOTE: perhaps this should read “WHAT COUNCIL GENERAL MANAGERS ARE PAID”

MATT SMITH STATE POLITICAL EDITOR
MERCURY
JUNE 07, 2015?12:00AM

GO TO SOURCE: http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/council-general-managers-on-big-bucks-with-salary-packages-of-up-to-340000/comments-fnpp9w4j-1227386470471

Tasmanian local council general managers are earning as much or more than the Premier and Treasurer. GENERAL managers of Tasmania’s largest councils are on salaries rivalling the Premier and Treasurer.

A?Sunday Tasmanian?analysis of Tasmania’s largest councils, and their highest-paid staff, shows that general managers are on salaries of up to $340,000 a year.
Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath has a package (which includes a fully maintained vehicle) that is worth between $320,000 and $339,999 a year – making him the highest-paid council boss in the state.

Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski ($290,000 to $310,000) and Clarence City Council general manager Andrew Paul ($240,000 to $260,000) round out the top three.
Glenorchy City Council’s Peter Brooks has a package worth between $200,000 and $250,000.

In comparison Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has a base salary with electorate loadings worth about $290,000 a year and the Treasurer Peter Gutwein $242,000.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is on a salary of about $507,000.

Clarence City Council general manager Andrew Paul is on a package of $240,000 to $260,000.

HCC general manager Nick Heath earns between $320,000 and $339,999 a year.

Council CEO salaries have come under scrutiny in Victoria where council bosses are earning up to $460,000 at the Melbourne City Council. The new Daniel Andrews-led Victorian Government has called for reform of executive salaries.

Glenorchy City Council general manager Peter Brooks, whose salary package is worth $200,000 to $250,000.

Tasmanian Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein told the?Sunday Tasmanian?most, if not all, general manager salary packages are individual common law contracts negotiated between the general manager and the relevant council.

“There is no State Government involvement – it is clearly a matter for local government to decide remuneration packages for their GM.”

University of Tasmania corporate governance expert Tom Baxter said it could be time to look at the salaries of general managers.
“Tasmania has seen significant reform of industrial relations across Tasmanian councils in recent years,” Mr Baxter said.
“Council employees (except for general managers) are now covered by the Local Government Industry Award, since January 1, 2014.
“On September 15, 2014, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) terminated the Municipal Managers (Tasmania) Award 2003 so it would be timely to review Tasmanian councils’ general manager remuneration, having regard to factors such as their responsibilities, council size, complexity, and pay for equivalent roles elsewhere.
“Such a review could also consider arguments for and against reforms such as salary caps, being proposed by Victoria’s Premier.”

Council GM salaries defended
BLAIR RICHARDS STATE POLITICAL REPORTER
MERCURY
JUNE 09, 2015?12:00AM
GO TO SOURCE: http://www.themercury.com.au/council-gm-salaries-defended/story-fnj3twbb-1227388852504>

THE acting head of Tasmania’s peak body for local government says councils have become complex organisations — a fact reflected in the salaries of general managers.

Analysis conducted by the Sunday Tasmanian as part of the Your Right to Know campaign showed general managers of the largest councils were on salaries rivalling that of the Premier.
Local Government Association of Tasmania acting chief executive Katrena Stephenson said the role could be compared with the head of a government department.
“Councils are far more complex beasts than they were in terms of the range of services they provide and the assets they own. They are big business,” Dr Stephenson said.
“They provide not only roads and rubbish [services], but social services, tourism and eco­nomic development and they have a significantly increased statutory role for State and Federal governments.

“In terms of the type of role it’s probably equivalent to a secretary of an agency and if you look at those salaries I’m sure they would be on par.”
She said councils were oper­ating in a competitive market when it came to ­attracting the right general manager.
“They have to think about how they can attract the right people to the job, they have to be competitive to get the right skills mix,” she said.
The Sunday Tasmanian’s analysis showed the state’s top earning council boss is Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath, whose salary package, including vehicle, is worth between $320,000 and $339,999.
Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski earns between $290,000 and $310,000 and Clarence City Council general manager Andrew Paul earns $240,000 to $260,000.
Glenorchy’s Peter Brooks is paid a package worth $200,000 to $250,000. This compares with the Premier’s base salary of $290,000.