Fairfield Mayor Nick Lalich will miss out on a substantial pay rise that was anticipated by a number of mayors from several NSW councils.
Some mayors had asked for their pay be increased to $91,000 but have instead been given a 2.5 per cent remuneration increase.
The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal ruled that ratepayers could not afford major pay rises for councillors.
Fairfield was one of 11 councils pushing for the massive pay rises.
The maximum a mayor can be paid is currently $49,340.
A submission to the tribunal by Fairfield Council stated that "the nature of change for these councillors and mayor has been substantial with greater obligations imposed by legislation, compliance and reporting requirements, community expectations, increased reporting and other complexities attaching to the functions of council".
But the tribunal ruled that "the demands were not unique to local government but apply to all areas of responsibility in society and the workplace".
Fairfield council will vote on their own pay rises, within the set bracket, later this year.