> These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. No, they are a problem

> These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. No, they are a problem when the process is not transparent or fair and open to others and don't have some modicum of value for money estimations performed. > I also think that $18.000 NZD per year, for any local government, hell, even for a corner bakery, is a paltry amount. That’s below minimum wage anywhere that I know of. I don't know what that has to do with how "fair" the money for the service was. He was not an employee, he was not being paid a salary to do a full time job. He got $368,000 for... something. Continuing his public performances that he was doing anyway and would have continued to do. Doesn't sound like the local tax payer got anything at all out of it. The politicians bought themselves a publicity stunt.