Three of the seven central Queensland councils have accepted pay rises for their mayors, deputy mayors and councillors.
The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal decided late last year to increase the maximum remuneration level for councils by 2 per cent from the start of the 2020-21 financial year.
Banana Shire Council, Central Highlands Regional Council and Gladstone Regional Council voted to accepted the increase.
It was declined by the Rockhampton, Livingstone, Isaac and Mackay councils.
Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said his council did not get involved in what it was paid and that doing so could set a precedent.
"I actually think it's dangerous for councils to be getting involved in what they think their pay should be, because once upon a time that's how it was," he said.
"The last thing we need is councillors deciding what their pay is; that is why they set up an independent tribunal, and we accept the decision of that tribunal, whatever it is."
Cr Burnett said it was not a matter of taking a pay rise but rather accepting the decision of the tribunal.
"I respect the mayors from Livingstone and Rocky and whatever decisions they make, but at the end of the day, we just stay out of that."
Giving it back to the community
While Banana Shire Council did not vote against the pay increase, it has left the decision to each councillor as to whether they accepted it.
Mayor Nev Ferrier said councillors could donate their pay increase back to the council.
"I am donating mine back to the Banana Shire Community Fund," he said.
