Mayors also to receive salary increase

The Sunday Times reports that the rise in the wages of all 68 mayors, calculated in accordance with the size of the council they lead, should cost taxpayers €220,000 a year, in addition to the €4 million to be paid to all MPs during this legislature.

Mayors heading councils with 11 to 13 councillors, of which there are five, will receive two thirds of the salaries of MPs- their annual earnings will increase from €12,741 to €17,847.

Mayors heading councils with seven to nine councillors, which amount to 26, will receive half the salaries of MPs- their income will increase from €9,556 to €13,385.

Salaries of mayors of councils with five councillors, a total of 37, will rise from €6,370 to €8,923- a third of MPs’ pay.

Parliamentary secretary Chris Said, responsible for local councils, told the newspaper the increases will be backdated to January 1.

Finance minister Tonio Fenech said in parliament last week that the salary of all 69 MPs will increase from €19,112 to €26,771, and will be backdated to May 2008.

In addition, ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also paid €42,000 and €40,100 respectively.

“This increase should incentivise mayors to dedicate more time and energy to the council,” Said said. “The responsibilities on local councils will keep increasing so we need to make sure mayors are adequately compensated.”

“I know mayors who out in lengthy hours at their council offices,” he said.