In a submission to the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal, the council has asked that fees for the city’s mayor and councillors be increased to reflect their responsibilities and workload.

The submission says the maximum amount available to councils in the same remuneration category as Shellharbour is not realistic for councils in the top range.

Based on current rates, councillors spending from 15 to 20 hours a week on council responsibilities receive between $21.33 and $16 an hour, the submission claims.

‘‘This is an unrealistic amount to pay the people who are making important decisions for our city, controlling a budget of $89 million and representing some 65,000 people,’’ it states.

Shellharbour’s councillors last year set their annual pay at $16,640 a year, the maximum amount available to councils in the Regional Rural category.

Mayor Kellie Marsh receives an additional $36,320 a year, also at the top of the allowable range.

The remuneration tribunal seeks submissions from councils before determining the range of fees payable to councillors and mayors in different council categories each year.

Shellharbour’s submission supports the city’s classification, but says the differences between councils in the same category mean a greater pay range is needed.

It includes a number of reasons to justify a pay rise, including the abolition of wards and reduction in councillor numbers from 13 to seven before the September elections.

‘‘The decrease in councillors has seen a substantial increase in the amount of workload and responsibility being placed on the seven councillors,’’ it states.

Other reasons include the introduction of smartphones and iPads, which mean councillors can be contacted around the clock, plus the scope of developments and population density in the city.

Cr Marsh believed ratepayers would understand the submission, included in a mayoral minute to next Tuesday’s council meeting.

‘‘I don’t think anyone in the community would knock a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay,’’ she said.

Deputy Mayor Marianne Saliba said councillors should be remunerated ‘‘appropriately’’ to attract quality candidates.