The cost of paying local politicians in Minto went up by just under $10,000 last year.
At the Feb. 16 meeting, treasurer Gordon Duff provided a report on council remuneration and expenses for 2015.
The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Dec. 1, 2014 and Nov. 30, 2015 totaled $138,088, compared to $128,376 in the previous 12 month period – an increase of $9,712, or about 7.5 per cent.
The increase ends a trend that began in 2013, when council costs totaled almost 12 per cent lower than the $154,068 spent in 2012. In 2014, council costs were just over $7,000 lower than in 2013.
Despite the increase, the report indicates council costs are actually under budget for calender year.
“For the calendar year 2015, preliminary results indicate the actual expenditures will be just over $117,000 versus a budgeted amount of $137,810,” the report states.
Mayor George Bridge received a base salary of $15,786 last year, plus meeting per diems of $7,200, convention and seminar expenses of $1,782 and mileage payments of $117 for a total of $24,885.
Deputy mayor Ron Faulkner received a base salary of $12,730, plus $2,950 in meeting per diems, $2,060 for convention and seminar expenses and $454 in mileage for a total of $18,196.
Payments for councillors were:
– Ron Elliott: base $10,963, per diems $7,902, conventions and seminars $5,288, mileage $1,004, total $24,888;
– Judy Dirksen: base $10,963, per diems $5,125, conventions and seminars $2,597, mileage $623, total $19,039;
– Mary Lou Colwell: base $10,963, per diems $4,195, conventions and seminars $2,927, mileage $240, total $18,057;
– Jean Anderson: base $10,963, per diems $4,265, conventions and seminars $2,530, mileage zero, total $17,489;
– Dave Turton: base $10,963, per diems $2,930, conventions and seminars $1,726, mileage $182, total $15,532.
Councillor Jean Anderson asked why “there is such a discrepancy” between the totals for council members.
“Are some of us not charging correctly?” she wondered.
CAO Bill White noted expense and per diem submissions are reviewed by the mayor and himself and no irregularities were found. He said the difference can be at least partly attributed to committee assignments.
For example, Elliott represents the Town of Minto on the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities executive committee, requiring attendance at additional meetings and conferences.
