A Vallensbæk mayor defends earning substantial additional income from utility company board positions while other municipal leaders refuse such payments. Henrik Rasmussen, Conservative mayor of Vallensbæk Municipality, receives 528,577 kroner annually from six board positions alongside his mayoral salary. This arrangement continues despite a 2016 expert commission recommendation to eliminate such dual income streams.
Rasmussen serves on boards of Vestforbrænding, Hofor, Biofos and Vestegnens Kraftvarmeselskab. He argues citizens receive value for money from his technical expertise. The mayor states he brings specialized knowledge to utility company governance. He completely stands by his additional compensation for board work.
Danish mayor salaries depend strictly on municipal population size. Current base compensation ranges from 884,895 kroner for towns under 12,500 residents to 1,384,513 kroner for municipalities exceeding 80,000 inhabitants. Copenhagen's lord mayor receives 1,551,612 kroner annually.
Political parties SF, Liberal Alliance and Danmarksdemokraterne recently renewed calls to examine mayoral dual income practices. The 2016 Vederlagskommission recommended higher base salaries instead of allowing board positions in municipal companies. While base pay increased over 30 percent, the board position opportunity remained unchanged.
Contrasting approaches emerge among Danish mayors. Svendborg Mayor Bo Hansen refuses payment for local board positions he considers part of his mayoral duties. He serves on educational institution Simac's board without compensation. Hansen believes such participation represents his obligation as mayor rather than separate work deserving extra pay.
The Social Democrat mayor does accept payment for national-level positions requiring Copenhagen travel. He received 38,392 kroner last year for serving on KL's social committee. Hansen consciously evaluates which roles genuinely require his personal involvement versus those other council members could fill.
This debate touches fundamental questions about public service compensation in Denmark's municipal governance system. Should technical expertise in utility management command premium payment beyond standard mayoral salaries? Or does accepting such roles inherently conflict with representing citizen interests?
Danish municipal board positions generate considerable additional income opportunities. The Klintholm waste management company board position offers 139,654 kroner annually. Such compensation creates potential income disparities among elected officials performing similar public duties.
International readers should understand Denmark's decentralized municipal system grants substantial local authority. Utility companies represent significant public assets requiring competent oversight. The question remains whether mayors should provide this oversight as part of their base responsibilities or as separately compensated expert work.
The ongoing discussion reflects broader European debates about appropriate compensation for public officials with specialized qualifications. As utility infrastructure grows more complex, the tension between public service ethos and market-rate compensation for expertise continues unresolved.