Dubbo mayor Ben Shields is likely to get a $20,000 pay rise if it's supported by his fellow councillors on Monday night.
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Dubbo Regional Council has been reclassified as a regional centre by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal. It means the maximum amount the councillors and mayor can be paid has increased.
For mayor, the maximum is $60,080, which is combined with the councillor fee. Under the new classification the councillor fee has increased by $4000 to a maximum of $24,320.
If it goes ahead, the mayor will receive a yearly fee of $84,000, a significant jump from the $64,530 for mayors under the former regional rural classification.
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At the December council meeting on Monday night, the councillors will vote to decide if they should have the maximum wage increase. The pay must be the same for every councillor.
Council's chief executive officer Michael McMahon has recommended the mayor and councillors get the highest amount available.
Eight councils that were reclassified as regional centres - including Bathurst and Orange - have already voted to have the maximum annual fee.
Wagga Wagga and Lismore councils both decided to remain at the same of similar fees to the last financial year.
The minimum a regional centre councillor can be paid is $13,820, while the lowest fee the mayor can be paid in a year is $42,570.
Councils classified as regional centres generally have a population of more than 40,000 and serve as the hub for a wider catchment area.