Bunbury ratepayers could be slugged for brand-new computers for councillors on top of a monetary allowance

Bunbury ratepayers could soon be slugged for brand-new computers for city councillors on top of a monetary allowance they already receive to purchase their own. Up until now, councillors have had to purchase their own laptop, desktop or tablet to use for council work covered by a yearly allowance which also allows them to purchase items such as printers. But in a motion set to be put to council on Tuesday, the policy review and development committee recommends that the City of Bunbury provides elected members with a new ICT hardware, such as a laptop or tablet, directly rather than councillors buying their own. The device would only be allocated to the councillor for the duration of their term and remain the property of the council, but the provision would be in addition to the previous allowance — which in 2023 was the State maximum under the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal of $3,500 a year — rather than replacing it. Under the new policy, councillors could opt out of receiving the hardware directly from the council, if they chose to do so. The revised policy states that the City of Bunbury “recognises the benefits of digital communications and information sharing” and removes antiquated provisions that allow for the monetary allowance to be spent on the rental charges for a fax machine and a telephone. Instead, under the changes, the allowance could be spent to “cover all information and communications technology costs” prescribed by local government regulations. The agenda for Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting does not say how much providing each member with a new device would cost ratepayers on top of the allowance. When the Herald sought clarity, a city spokesperson said there were “no current budget implications” because if endorsed, the changes wouldn’t come into effect until July 1. It means the costings would be considered as part of next financial year’s budget and were not provided. If endorsed, the policy would say the City of Bunbury’s “preferred technology for disseminating and managing council documentation is via an online format”. “At the request of individual elected members, hard copy material can also be made available,” it adds. The council will meet to debate the potential new entitlement on Tuesday from 5.30pm in the City of Bunbury council chambers, 4 Stephen Street, Bunbury. Ordinary council meetings are live-streamed.