The council released the information this week after an Official Information Request by the Otago Daily Times.
The request was made after the council declined to release the information, which was considered and endorsed by the last meeting of the former council on September 15, following a review done by the council's employment committee.
Council corporate services director Wayne Scott said the employment committee, made up of all council members, undertook a review of Mr Martin's performance, the setting of performance targets for the year ahead and the review of his remuneration.
Mr Martin's total package was worth $299,040, including non-salary components such as superannuation, but excluding fringe benefit tax and GST, he said.
The council was unable to calculate the total cost of his employment, as the fringe benefit tax would not be known until the end of the period and amended rates of it and GST might alter the calculation, Mr Scott said.
In 2009, Mr Martin received $295,070 (salary $222,000) and in 2008 $284,250 (salary $222,000), with both figures including fringe benefit tax.
The final figure would be included in the 2011 annual report, which would be released about September.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead, who was deputy chairman of the previous council, said the decision was made in-committee that the information would be released with the next annual report as was the normal practice.
The decision to give Mr Martin a pay increase was based on the result of the performance review, he said. It took into account objectives the council had set for the chief executive and the overall performance of the council.
"It was clearly a positive performance review and a decision was made as a result of that."
Cr Gerrard Eckhoff said he voted against the increase, which was inappropriate in a time of financial belt-tightening.
The country could simply not afford such wage increases.
Mr Eckhoff had complained to the auditor-general about the council's initial refusal to release the information, and said annual reports were a good place to "bury" information.
The figure ought to have been released before the October election, he said.
