At the end of the first session of the new term of the Bolesławiec County Council, councillors voted on a draft resolution concerning higher councillors’ allowances. The basis for the new allowance is PLN 3,650. The new chairman of the Bolesławiec County Council, Maciej Małkowski, will receive 93% of this amount per month, or PLN 3,394.
County Secretary Sylwia Chruszcz explained that this change was related, among other things, to an increase in the minimum wage. She also said that the allowances specified in the draft resolution were comparable to those received by city councillors, and that the allowances had previously been too low both compared with neighboring counties and with the Bolesławiec City Council.
Radosław Palczewski of KO spoke, asking where such a large increase for deputy chairmen came from and whether it was related to an expansion of their duties.
S. Chruszcz explained that councillors holding the aforementioned positions were more active and had more responsibilities than, for example, committee chairmen.
“Today we asked where such increases came from... I was the chairman of the county council and the rates so far were appropriate. Today we have a situation where this is some kind of cash grab. It was seen repeatedly when Law and Justice was in power. Today we see it coming to govern the county, and again we have a cash grab. We voted against it; at least as the only Third Way councillor, I believe it is unnecessary. Why reduce the local government’s resources when we know how it functions anyway?” said Wojciech Kasprzyk of Third Way, the former head of the County Council. “The chairman will receive an increase of about 97% today, meaning his remuneration will be increased by almost one hundred percent. Chairman Maciej Małkowski himself,” Kasprzyk added. “To clarify, the chairman received an increase to 93%,” Wojciech Kasprzyk said (added at 6:50 p.m.).
“It is quite strange, because the largest increase went to the deputy chairmen of the council, people who, alongside the chairman, practically perform no function or role. Thus, it is clear that—in our assessment—this is repayment of election debts, and there is nothing else behind it. I am not opposed to an increase as such, but it would be good if some moderation were maintained in these increases. Here we are dealing with a radical increase in the remuneration or allowance for the council presidium, with a very small or minimal increase for the remaining councillors,” added councillor Radosław Palczewski of the Civic Coalition. “As for the deputy chairmen, there is a 22% difference between what they had and what they will have. It is therefore a large increase, because, for example, an ordinary councillor receives an increase of around a dozen percent. I have not calculated it exactly—about twelve, it seems to me. So it is clearly evident that this was intended to achieve ‘something’. Unfortunately, that something was certainly not recognition of the work of the chairmen or deputy chairmen, but rather repayment of election debts,” Radosław Palczewski added.
“No, this is not any repayment of debts,” retorted Maciej Małkowski, the new council chairman. “We adjusted the rates to reality; they do not reach the maximum levels for counties. The allowances here are similar to those in Bolesławiec city; they are at a comparable level. Please do not look for a hidden motive here. This also follows from the relevant regulations. We had to update them. The secretary explained it wonderfully at the session, so that is how it looks from a formal point of view.”
In response to councillor Kasprzyk’s statement that the increase was 97% compared with what had been paid before, councillor Małkowski replied: “Well, you know, percentages can be multiplied, divided and so on. I suggested to the councillors who disagree with the increase in these allowances that they donate the surplus to a worthy cause, for example to a special-needs school. I think that would be a very good gesture from those councillors who voted against it and would be a certain consequence of their vote.”
After the discussion, the council adopted the resolution. Fourteen councillors voted in favor and seven against.
Voting results on the allowance increases
Councillors who voted in favor
Law and Justice
- BIERNAT Bogdan (60)
- HAŁKA Patryk (32)
- FIJAŁKOWSKI Sebastian (43)
- KOZIOŁ Agnieszka (37)
- LISIECKA-SARBAK Julia (27)
- KOŁODZIEJ Mateusz (32)
Tomasz Gabrysiak’s Committee
- GABRYSIAK Tomasz (50)
- NENKIN Jarosław (50)
- SKÓRA Józef (53)
- MARNICKI Maciej (40)
- BASIAK Krzysztof (44)
Local Impulse
- MAŁKOWSKI Maciej (48)
- ZAREMBECKA Alina (49)
Civic Coalition
- STEC Antoni (71)
Councillors who voted against
Third Way
- KASPRZYK Wojciech (38)
Civic Coalition
- PALCZEWSKI Radosław (48)
- KOZAK Jan Franciszek (62)
- MATYJEWICZ Tomasz (51)
- MICHALCZUK Agnieszka (49)
- RUDYK Cezariusz (59)
Local Impulse
- BŁONIARZ Gabriela (44)