Highland Council Facebook budget chat descends into attack on chief's pay
A Facebook poll conducted by Highland Council has descended into an attack on the chief executive Steve Barron'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.
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 Mr Baron - the council’s highest earning official.
One person responded to the queries saying: “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!”.
Someone else wrote: “That is disgusting - and the council is holding a gun to people’s heads, saying pay more or lose services such as education hours!”
A council spokeswoman said the salary for the post of chief executive was agreed in 2013 by “national negotiations”. It was set at £140,112.
The council tax poll was carried out after the council leader delivered a shock budget announcement earlier this week.
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."
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.
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The council tax poll on Facebook was drawn up to seek views on a potential rise.
By around midday today - Wednesday 2 December - 81 people had posted comments and 386 had responded to the short questionnaire.
A total of 217 did not want to see the cost of council tax go up, 95 people said they would pay five per cent more, which would add about £5 per month to the bill for a Band D property.
Fifty-five people said they would pay an extra 10 per cent - or £10 a month for a band D property. And just 19 people said they would consider paying even more than 10 per cent.
Most of the comments were posted by individuals who were against a council tax rise.
One person : “More people will need to use food banks and apply for hardship loans if you increase the council tax.”
Someone else 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.”
Speaking after the debate, Badenoch and Strathspey Scottish National Party MP Drew Hendry, defended the current council tax freeze.
He said: “It is important to highlight that 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.”
The current council tax system was introduced in 1993 and has never been reviewed.
All properties are valued at 1991 prices and there has never been a revaluation.
The eight bands are set in legislation as are the regulations regarding maximum charges for second homes and holiday homes.
The Scottish Government established a commission to review this and it’s findings are due to be published in the coming months.