The president of the peak body representing the state's councils highlighted the significant responsibilities of council bosses, emphasizing their oversight of millions of dollars in infrastructure, services, and staff. The data released by the Office of Local Government NSW for the 2022-23 financial year showcases that certain council general managers in regional NSW, such as at Walgett Shire Council and Liverpool Plain Shire Council, are among the top earners, with salaries exceeding $500,000 annually. Moreover, it was noted that the top-paid council CEOs in New South Wales also receive salaries in excess of $500,000 per year.
The remuneration figures for the council general managers included various components such as salaries, superannuation, non-cash benefits, and fringe benefits tax payable by the councils. Despite this, it was pointed out that the published data may have been inflated in some instances due to additional payments like termination packages and cashed-out leave. For instance, there were cases where multiple general managers were employed within a single financial year, leading to increased costs for ratepayers.
In addition, changes in leadership within councils contributed to fluctuations in the remuneration figures. When general managers or CEOs left their positions, the data reflected not only their salaries but also additional costs related to their departure, including entitlements owed and termination payments. This was particularly illustrated by examples of councils where there were multiple changes in general manager roles within a short period. The president of the peak council body justified the high salaries by highlighting the complexities of managing large organizations responsible for significant public assets, services, and personnel. The vast responsibilities undertaken by council CEOs and general managers were emphasized, with the state's councils overseeing billions of dollars in assets and employing thousands of individuals.