Tasmanian councillors should not be paid allowances, according to two former MLCs and the husband of a current MLC.
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"We are all of the opinion that the position of councillor should be a voluntary role, as this would attract only people whose motive is service to their community," ex-MLCs and former Penguin wardens Hugh and Des Hiscutt and Ben Hiscutt - the husband of Liberal Montgomery MLC Leonie Hiscutt - said in a submission to the state government's review of local government legislation.
"While conceding that the horse may have bolted on this, a return to past practices should be on the table."
Allowances for mayors, deputy mayors and other councillors vary depending on municipal population sizes.
The mayors of Hobart and Launceston will be eligible for mayoral allowances of $92,997 from November 1, on top of councillor allowances of $37,198.
The mayors of Devonport, Central Coast, Burnie and West Tamar will be eligible for $57,016 on top of councillor allowances of $22,806.
The smallest councils, including King Island and Flinders, will have mayoral allowances of $23,863 and councillor allowances of $9546.
The allowances are increased periodically.
Councillors are also eligible to be reimbursed for various expenses.
Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam said it was fair that councillors received allowances.
He said they were pittances considering the amount of work councillors did.
"For our councillors, it's not much money for the hours and the responsibility," he said.
"There's more and more responsibility coming onto councils.
"When I first came on to the council, roads, rates and rubbish were all we did; now there's all the social issues we deal with and are expected to deal with."
Cr Quilliam said he had known some councillors who would not have been able to afford to be councillors if there were no allowances.
He said scrapping allowances would not help encourage females and young people to stand.
The Hiscutts also argued the system of the public voting for mayors should be replaced by elected councillors choosing mayors.
That was the case in the past.
The Hiscutts supported keeping local government voting voluntary.
Local Government Minister Mark Shelton said about 800 responses were received during the review's consultation process.
He said it showed the high value Tasmanians placed on local government.
"The government will now consider feedback, particularly where differing views were raised or reforms were not supported, before determining its final policy position," he said.
He said the government was "committed to providing a modern local government legislative framework that enables councils to meet their responsibilities and meet community expectations".
"While Tasmania has changed significantly over the past 25 years, and despite substantial social, economic and technological changes, the Local Government Act has largely remained the same."