City of Powell River councillors approved the 2010 statement of financial information at a special council meeting on June 23. It includes a remuneration and expenses report for both council and employees.
City council received $131,048 in remuneration, the same amount as in 2009. Mayor Stewart Alsgard received $38,629 and each councillor received $15,403.
Total expenses for council increased slightly, from $29,584 in 2009 to $30,665 in 2010.
Councillor Chris McNaughton claimed the most in expenses, $8,696. Councillor Dave Formosa was second, with $7,012. He was followed by Councillor Aaron Pinch, with $4,151 and Councillor Debbie Dee, with $3,767. Mayor Stewart Alsgard claimed $3,079 in expenses, while Councillor Maggie Hathaway claimed $2,322. Councillor Jim Palm had the least in expenses, at $1,633.
Chief Administrative Officer Stan Westby was the top wage earner in Powell River with $165,467, $3,079 more than the $162,388 he received in 2009. Westby claimed $19,458 in expenses, down $263 from the $19,721 he claimed in 2009. His expenses also declined from previous years, when he claimed $28,818 in 2008 and $20,563 in 2007.
The number of city employees earning more than $75,000 increased in 2010 to 34, from 33 in 2009. The total remuneration for employees earning more than $75,000 rose from almost $3 million in 2009 to about $3.2 million 2010. Expenses for employees earning over $75,000 declined, from $82,643 in 2009 to $69,890 in 2010.
The total remuneration to employees in 2010 was $10,097,668, compared to $9,725,595 in 2009. Total employee expenses decreased from $226,628 in 2009 to $199,919 in 2010.
Council approval of the statement of financial information came before the statutory deadline of June 30. This is the first time in five years the city has met the deadline.
Council approved the 2010 annual report at its regular meeting on June 16. The public had the opportunity to comment on the report, which includes the 2010 consolidated financial statements, audited by BDO Dunwoody LLP, but no one did.
