Highland Council chief's £143,000 salary under fire
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A FACEBOOK poll conducted by Highland Council has erupted into a scathing attack on the chief executive’s £142,926 salary.
The survey asked if people would be prepared to pay a bit more council tax to help keep services running, and if so what rise would be acceptable.
At the last count today, the majority – 217 responders – said they did not want to pay any more council tax.
And there were questions about the take home pay of the council’s highest earning official, Steve Barron.
One comment said: "He earns £142,926 plus a Brucie Bonus of £9K for officiating over the last general election".
This was followed by comments of "Far Too much" and "That’s an obscene amount!".
Another responder wrote: "That is disgusting – and the council’s holding a gun to people’s heads, saying pay more or lose services such as education hours!"
The council tax poll was carried out after the council leader delivered a shock budget announcement earlier this week.
Spending chiefs previously thought that they would need to find savings of around £21 million to make the books balance in February.
However, it emerged on Monday that the council may have to find double that amount. Budget leader Bill Fernie said it could even be as high as £50 million.
And the council’s finance chief Derek Yule warned of "significant cuts" but said raising council tax could be key to protecting some services from closure. The council is in its eighth year of a council tax freeze set by the government.
The council’s plan for plugging the shortfall will not be published until after the Scottish Government announces its own budget on December 16.
The council tax poll on Facebook was drawn up to seek views on a potential rise.
Most individuals who left comments were against a council tax rise.
One said: "More people will need to use food banks and apply for hardship loans if you increase the council tax."
Another said: "Pay more council tax? Are u for real? I’m finding myself doing over 50 hours overtime a month to try and survive and u want to hit us with more council tax."
A council spokeswoman said the salary for the post of chief executive was agreed by "national negotiations".
She said: "Likewise election payments are also set nationally. Returning Officers remuneration is set by the Scotland Office – the value is dependent on the number of registered electors and postal voters in each constituency."
Speaking after the debate, Inverness and Nairn Scottish National party MP Drew Hendry defended the current council tax freeze.
"The council tax freeze is fully funded by the Scottish Government therefore rejecting the settlement would mean that people in the Highlands would have to pay considerably more before any money would go to services.
"A rise in council tax coupled with the reduction in universal credit still planned by Chancellor George Osborne would push many working families right over the edge."
