The councillor payments were endorsed as part of council’s 2016/17 annual operating plan.

The mayor will receive $24,630 (an increase from $24,030) and councillors will be paid $11,290 ( an increase from $11,010).

Council also allocated $53,000 to upgrade Payten Road in the plan.

The funds were allocated from the Capital Program by a transfer from the Internal Roads Restriction.

The public exhibition period for the council’s operating plan ran from April 1 to May 6.

Members of the public made 38 submissions.

Council voted to adopt a base rate of $435 for rates plus an Ad Valorem component of 0.802746 cents in the dollar. This is a slight increase from 0.794959 cents in the dollar. Water charges have also slightly increased. The first 300 kilolitres has increased from 91 cents to 96 cents, 301-500 per kilolitres has increased from $1.33 to $1.40 cents and the cost of more than 500 kilolitres has increased from $2.31 per kilolitre to $2.45 per kilolitre.

Corporate services director Duncan McWhirter said he was very impressed with the active citizenship displayed by residents and ratepayers, with most coming in via the new Have Your Say Leeton website.

“Considering that there have been no formal submissions for the past three years, the response from the community on what they supported or wanted changed is very encouraging,” Mr McWhirter said.

Mr McWhirter said council had identified $800,000 worth of operational savings towards its Fit for the Future Improvement Plan, with council now working towards achieving the remaining $500,000 of savings required by 2020. Mayor Paul Maytom said while council would still have to find substantial savings in future years, the 2016/17 annual opreating plan was a significant step in the right direction. “Council is committed towards ensuring our Fit for the Future targets are achieved to maintain Leeton Shire’s position as a standalone council,” Councillor Maytom said.

“We thank the staff for being prepared to innovatively seek new ways of being efficient and effective.”