Some time ago a distinguished trougher decided being mayor was a big job and decreed that a salary commensurate with such awesome responsibility was in order.
Now this was a job that in the past was considered a prime example of community service and 50 years ago was undertaken as such for no remuneration but maybe in some cases attracting some degree of recompense for personal costs.

Now it is at best a part time job that is rewarded handsomely and in the case of Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton rewards him with the princely sum of nz$147 000. Good work if one can get it.

Then perhaps in an attempt to underscore that awesome task at hand Dear old Sammy has inveigled hisself another trough that pays another $100 000 pa as President of Local Government New Zealand.
Two Part time jobs and Sammy the mr 16% rates increase will be spared any embarrassment in meeting his contribution to the ever expanding pot of gold to be antied up by ratepayers every year being able to access free money of nearly a quarter of a million annually.
Of course it will not end there as Sammy Lives in Darfield some 30 kms distant and his office is in Rolleston so even if he forgoes a home trip for lunch that will be over 60 Kms a day and that will be also another little bit of ratepayer dosh

. Next question what do the ratepayers get for that largess, well I know he is not the boss that job falls to a ms SharronMason CEO who is in turn supported by:
Tim Mason Executive Director Infrastructure and Property,
Tim Harris Executive Director Enabling Services,
Denise Kidd. Executive Director Community Services & Facilities,
Puamiria Parata- Goodall Pou Kaiawha- executive Cultural Advisor,
Matt McGrath Chief Digital Officer,
Allison Sneddon Chief Financial Officer,
Steve Gibling Executive Director People, Culture and Capability,
Robert Love Executive Director Development and Growth.

We still havn’t accounted for the Civil Defence controller, the Dog Ranger, the Parking Enforcement Officer, the water race foreman the tea lady, the road cone controller, the cat lady ——–.
The Council owned CORDE outfit that places a barrier in responsibility between the elected drones, the appointed staff and the actual workers?

Of course it will require rate rises of double digits, stupid boy.

I am of sufficient time watching to understand the County Clerk was once the link between the elected unpaid council and the staff that included the foreman of works. the receptionist and the secretary.