25 Jan 2012

Museum board defends director's salary

10:16 am on 25 January 2012

Otago Museum Board says its director's salary of $310,000 is fair, despite questions from some city councillors.

Dunedin City Council has allocated almost $1 million in levy increases to the muesum over the next five years, since director Shimrath Paul admitted funding shortfalls.

Cr Teresa Stevenson says the council had no idea what Mr Paul earned or how the museum spends its money.

But Museum Board acting chair Kate Wilson says councillors have not raised concerns in the past.

She told Morning Report that Mr Paul has a smaller team than other chief executives of other local government organisations and museums, but is deserving of the salary he receives.