By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council’s 2017-2018 Annual Report has outlined remuneration and expenses paid to Mayor Tracy Dobie and councillors for last financial year.
Cr Dobie earned a base salary of $125,000, with an employee superannuation contribution of $7500 and an employer contribution of $15,000.
Deputy Mayor Jo McNally’s salary was $76, 130 – with employee and employer superannuation contributions of $4687 and $9375 respectively.
Each of the seven other councillors earned a salary of $66,410, with employee and employer superannuation contributions of $3984 and $7969 respectively.
Only four councillors were reimbursed with telephone allowance – Cr Marika McNichol ($1200), Cr Neil Meiklejohn ($828), Cr Vic Pennisi ($1200) and Cr Yve Stocks ($780).
Councillor expenses for 2017-2018 were as follows (with expenses including items such as conference registrations, meals, travel and ‘professional development’) –
Mayor Tracy Dobie – $2889
Deputy Mayor Jo McNally – $872
Cr Cameron Gow – $350
Cr Rod Kelly – $4987
Cr Marika McNichol – $162
Cr Neil Meiklejohn – $1486
Cr Vic Pennisi – $350
Cr Yve Stocks – $787
Cr Sheryl Windle – $350
The annual report also shows “compensation” paid to “key management personnel” for the 2017-2018 financial year totalled $3,095,000.
A council spokesman said the figure represented a combination of “allowances, wages, superannuation and long service leave entitlements”.
