CEO’s pay revealed

Alex de Vos
The City of Greater Geelong’s new chief executive will be paid nearly $300,000 in his first year, just a few thousand dollars short of the Victorian Premier.
However, the new package for Stephen Griffin is some $27,000 less than his predecessor.
Outgoing council boss Kay Rundle received $322,000, better than John Brumby and only $18,000 less than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earns for running the country.
Surf Coast Shire chief executive Mark Davies has scored an annual package worth $219,000, while Borough of Queenscliffe chief Lenny Jenner is paid $166,000.
Geelong acting mayor Rod Macdonald defended Mr Griffin’s $295,000 salary, saying the City had to attract the best applicants, which meant offering attractive packages.
The salary offer comes as ratepayers struggled to come to terms with another rate rise over housing uncertainty amid the global financial crisis.
Geelong’s council lifted its rates this year by 4.9 per cent.
The City has proposed a further 4.3 per cent hike next year, rising another 4.6 per cent each year until 2013.
Cr Macdonald said duties under Mr Griffin’s leadership ensured he earned every dollar.
“The City is a large and complex organisation with a staff of around 2000, a capital works program of $80.2 million and a recurrent operating income of $216 million,” he said.
“The chief executive officer has a challenging task of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organisation.
“It is a highly involved position, requiring great administrative skills and management expertise.”
Surf Coast Shire ratepayers were hit even harder than their Geelong counterparts, with a 5.75 per cent rate rise.
Next year Surf Coast will slug homeowners with an six per cent rate increase to help pay for the shire’s $40 million civic centre.
A five per cent rate increase is a part of the shire’s plans every year until 2013.
Borough of Queenscliffe, the second highest council for rates in Victoria, lifted its annual bills this year by 3.5 per cent, about half of last year’s increase.
Queenscliffe has proposed a further 4.5 per cent hike over the next three years.