City of Powell River Council has voted to not give mayor and councillors a raise in their annual stipend in 2024.
At the December 21 city council meeting, councillors considered a motion to continue with annual remuneration and reimbursement of expenses into 2024, in accordance with the city’s remuneration and reimbursement bylaw, with no adjustments to 2023 rates. The second part of the motion was to direct staff to report back to council by the end of August 2024 with recommendations for mayor and council remuneration and reimbursement for 2024 to 2028 without using an independent professional.
Councillor Jim Palm said in the 15 years he had served as a city councillor, he started with $15,000 a year. He said when looking at the current stipend, it has doubled over those 15 years.
“We get paid well for what we do,” said Palm. “In terms of city finances, we need to save every penny we can. We don’t know what kind of financial shape we are going to be in for 2024 so I’m recommending we hold the line on any type of increase.
“Staff recommended two per cent but I’m not in favour of that. We’ll have a clearer picture going forward in the new year. From what I am hearing, the tax situation in our community is not going to be looking rosy.”
Councillor Trina Isakson said she also supported the recommendation. She said there would be tough financial discussions in 2024 and so it was an easier decision to make because the only impact was to council.
She said, however, she wanted to emphasize that to attract a diversity of candidates for city council, the pay has to make it possible for people to make it work in their lives.
“When I support this motion, it is because it is okay for me, but when I think about attracting candidates for the next election, I want to make sure it is possible for people who don’t have independent wealth or pensions to rely on. While I support this motion, it doesn’t mean I support holding the line in the future.”
Councillor Rob Southcott said when he first sat on council, he had a full-time job. He said he had to take time off in order to do an adequate job at city hall, and actually made less money, gross, than had he simply done the full-time job he had.
“That’s the kind of sacrifice for the job around this table,” said Southcott. “If people are going to do a good job of representing the community and making responsible decisions, there is a phenomenal amount to learn and to know. It takes considerable dedication. Compensation needs to consider that. People need to live.”
Council carried the motion unanimously for no increase in pay for elected officials in 2024.
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