$16K increase takes Hamilton City Council boss' pay to $469K

Rudi from Hamilton Lake

(Hamilton Residents and Ratepayers Association Media Release)

September 30, 2019: Council undertook a review of the Chief Executive. This review concluded that NO pay increase should be awarded to the Chief Executive. (​Source​: HCC Governance)
February 12, 2020: Council approved a $16,000 salary increase for the Chief Executive quoting - "Richard is a highly competent chief executive and is performing at a very high-level on behalf of the city". The increase is Backdated to 1 July 2019. (Source​: Stuff Feb 12 2020)
This $16,000 increase takes the Hamilton City Council Council Chief Executive salary to $469,000 compared with the New Zealand Prime minister's salary of $471,000. Hamilton City has a population of around 170,000 compared while the NZ population is almost 5 million. At current exchange rates the Hamilton CEO salary is more than that of the Prime minister of Canada , who is in charge of over 37m people .
Have Council Elected members considered the impact of this decision have on single pensioners with an annual income of $24,722 (Source: Work and income)​. THEY PAY THE RATES.
In light of the rates rise last year of almost 10%, planned ongoing rates rises almost double that of inflation, and projected debt in the ten year plan of almost three quarters of a Billion dollars, the Residents and Ratepayers Association is seeking community opinion on this decision? ​

Email: hamiltonratepayers@gmail.com