The mayor is up for a $2800 pay rise for the coming year, taking his pay packet up to $76,295, but said he did not feel comfortable accepting it.
"I'm a bit uncomfortable with the pay rise, not because of the percentage but because I thought my pay ... was right where it was."
However, as the cut-off date to appeal the change was one day earlier, councillors told him to take it and not feel bad about it.
"We are bound by a system that tells us what to do and if council changes and doesn't accept, it takes time and effort.
"I don't think we should spend the time and money to do something about it. Let's move on," deputy mayor and Cromwell Community Board chairman Neil Gillespie said.
Mr Gillespie is chairman of the council's finance committee and will get the next biggest increase ($90), taking his remuneration up to $22,573.
All other elected members will also receive pay rises of varying amounts.
Those who will get the least are also those who are paid the least - the Roxburgh and Maniototo Community Board members.
They will receive an extra $13 per year, taking their remuneration up to $3361.
There are a total of 28 elected members in Central Otago who will receive a total of $302,315.
The amount of money is set by the Remuneration Authority and applied to the elected members' pay packets through an allocation model.
