Despite paying 25 county councillors for part of the year instead of the usual 16, Wellington taxpayers doled out a little less in 2014 than in 2013 for councillors’ salaries, benefits and expenses.
In 2013 county ratepayers paid $786,019 for 16 elected councillors. In 2014, with nine extra councillors in the mix for part of the year due to changes after the Oct. 27 municipal election, the total bill for council remuneration came in at $784,768.
Council approved the remuneration report presented by county treasurer Ken DeHart at its February meeting. On March 26 council opted to keep a one-third tax free allowance in place for the current term.
Council has established 2015 remuneration at $89,414 for the warden and $32,869 for county councillors. Remuneration for the council members is adjusted each year by the same percentage increase received by the county’s non-union staff.
Past Warden Chris White was the highest paid county politician last year at over $113,000 in total remuneration. The figure includes an $85,529 salary (of which $28,509 is tax-free) and benefits of $16,421 for a total of $101,950. White’s expenses came to $11,796, making the total payout $113,746.
Incoming Warden George Bridge was next on the 2014 pay scale, with salary and benefits of $42,382 and expenses of $10,642 for total remuneration of $53,024.
The county remuneration report does not include what seven of the councillors who also serve as lower-tier mayors were paid by their home municipalities.
Council benefits include the employer portion of OMERS and CPP premiums, as well as dental and extended health coverage.
Salary benefits and expenses for all incoming and outgoing council members are detailed in a chart on page 29.
