The next District of North Vancouver council will be getting a salary top-up courtesy of the current one.
Council voted unanimously Monday night on a new remuneration package that will see local elected members’ annual pay increase, starting in 2019. The raise is intended to offset a change in the Income Tax Act, eliminating a provision that allowed local government members to collect one-third of their council pay tax free.
Starting in 2019, the district’s mayor will earn $122,777 per year, up from the current $104,005. Councillors’ pay is set at 40 per cent of the mayor’s take home - $49,111 per year, starting in 2019.
All told, the new regime will cost $63,826 more per year in salaries. Health and dental benefits could grow by another $22,607, according to the district.
According to the district’s staff report, the higher costs will be absorbed through budget cuts in other administrative areas.
Council’s rationale was that new council members should not expect less take-home pay than their predecessors when the amount of work expected of council is always increasing.
“We are moving towards council’s duties being full time and I think anybody who’s running for council should be aware that the tasks, in terms of time, are quite onerous,” said Coun. Robin Hicks, noting the hours spent in committee meetings, listening to constituents and reading council reports to prepare for council meetings. “If you do a good job… I would say between 35 and 40 hours a week minimum on that basis, I think the compensation is reasonable.”
Coun. Roger Bassam agreed.
“But it does have other rewards other than remuneration. I would never do this job for the money,” he said with a laugh.
