Toowoomba Regional Council - Cr Cahill donates his $20,000 bonus - Mayor and other Councillors say no way ...
Councillor Bill Cahill has set an example to other Toowoomba Regional councillors by donating his $20,000 amalgamation bonus to charity.
His bonus will go to charity in instalments over the next four years.
Councillors yesterday formally voted to give themselves a 9.4% pay rise, ignoring staff recommendations that they accept a 4% pay increase.
Mayor Peter Taylor scored a 14% pay rise to $156,894.
Cr Cahill's new salary of $95,790 for 2009 consists of a base salary of $88,590 plus an amalgamation bonus of $7200.
The increases have sparked an enormous community reaction. Letter writers to The Chronicle have been outraged at the pay hike.
The bonus is paid fortnightly, but Cr Cahill said he would draw a lump sum cheque of $7188.73 and present it to Teen Challenge today.
“I'm happy with my salary. I don't need the bonus,” Cr Cahill said. “So I will be putting it back into the community.”
His comments are in contrast to those made by fellow councillor Carol Taylor.
Cr Taylor was the first to object to the original pay recommendation presented at last Wednesday's committee meeting, stating that councillors deserve more money.
“I certainly don't want to be seen as being money-grabbing. I suppose that is how it will be - but I think I'm worth it,” she said.
Cr Cahill said he had been determined to donate his amalgamation bonus ever since council was told that it was compulsory last year.
Council previously thought it was an optional bonus and set their pay to not include this amount.
However, once council was told that it was compulsory in October, they adjusted and reduced their pay accordingly in November.
Cr Cahill said he was delighted to hand over his hard-earned cash to Teen Challenge.
“The reason why I chose Teen Challenge is because they do an absolutely brilliant job in alcohol and drug rehabilitation,” he said.
“I'm very passionate about the work that they do in the community.”
Cr Cahill said he had made a commitment to donate his amalgamation bonus to charity each year until it finishes in March, 2012.
See - The Chronicle - Cr Cahill donates his bonus.
Yes he'll probably get a tax deduction for the donation but at least he recognises that the actions of the Mayor and other Councillors are outrageous.
Privately, they will be steaming that Cr Cahill has broken ranks and done this.
The pressure is now firmly on the Mayor and the other Councillors to follow suit ...
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 6:08 AM
9 Comments:
It is outrageous that they simply accepted this increase.
If we want to donate "OUR MONEY" to charity then that is up to each and every one of us. Bill Cahill would have won more browny points if he had rejected it outright.
These politicians are a drain on the coffers and should act more responsibly.
It is not evident to the community that their work load has increased at all.
We have a situation here where country councillors were elected to the new regional council and they are not up to the game.
They are usually putty in the hands of the bureaucrats but in this case greed got the better of them.
They seem not to have enough courage to fight the State government who they say told them they had to have this increase.
What utter rubbish!!
7:17 AM, January 28, 2009
But they were elected. And that's democracy. You'll have a chance to get rid of them in 2012. At least Cahill is doing the honourable thing.
10:13 AM, January 28, 2009
What's honourable about taking the pay raise and giving it away to a charity of his choosing.
He should have said No because the community are doing it tuff at present.
It will be interesting to see what the SMS's say to-morrow.
12:38 PM, January 28, 2009
Bill Cahill is trying to make himself look good, as he knows that they are all very unpopular.
Besides which his donations will be a tax deduction.
These councillors think that us mere ratepayers are stupid.
It is about time this bunch of useless councillors starting proving that they are actually doing something, instead of eating all those lovely gourmet sandwiches and nodding their heads!
12:40 PM, January 28, 2009
If you don't like them vote them out in 2012.
Until then you'll just have to watch them eat their gourmet sandwiches.
1:03 PM, January 28, 2009
I didn't vote for any of them, but the voters couldn't see through this bunch, including the Mayor.
5:20 PM, January 28, 2009
me either!
8:02 PM, January 28, 2009
And I will not be voting for any of them in 2012 - but what will the sheep do?
10:31 PM, January 28, 2009
It's our Money he is giving away!!!
7:34 AM, January 29, 2009
Post a Comment
<< Home