MINTO – The total cost of paying local politicians in Minto increased by around $30,000 last year.
On Feb. 28, treasurer Gordon Duff provided a report on council remuneration and expenses for 2022.
The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Dec. 1, 2021 and Nov. 15, 2022 totalled $167,601.
That’s up 22% from $137,057 in the same period in 2021-22.
The reporting period only applies to remuneration paid to councillors in office prior to the Oct. 24 municipal election.
Mayor George Bridge received a base salary of $18,826 last year, plus meeting per diems of $19,323, convention and seminar expenses of $3,204 and mileage of $924, for a total of $42,278.
Deputy mayor (now mayor) Dave Turton received a base salary of $15,182, plus $5,410 in meeting per diems, $4,588 in convention and seminar expenses and $780 in mileage for a total of $25,960.
Payments for councillors were:
- Ron Elliott: base $12,753, per diems $8,229, conventions and seminars $4,639 and mileage $781, total $26,403;
- Judy Dirksen: base $12,753, per diems $4,522, conventions and seminars $3,594 and mileage $793, total $21,663;
- Jean Anderson: base $12,753, per diems $2,660, conventions and seminars $813, mileage $0, total $16,226;
- Geoff Gunson: base $12,753, per diems $2,848, conventions and seminars $3,742 and mileage $730, total $20,074; and
- Mark MacKenzie: base $12,753, per diems $2,240, conventions and seminars $0, mileage 0, total $14,993.
The report indicates per diem rates are: $60 per council meeting, $98 for specific meetings under four hours and $173 for specific meetings over four hours.
Base salary rates and per diem in 2022 were unchanged from the previous year.
“‘Meeting’ is rigidly defined to include standing and appointed committees, conferences and conventions, and educational sessions as approved by the mayor,” the report notes.
The report also notes a new council remuneration schedule was adopted in 2022 which took effect on Nov. 15, 2022 for the new term of council.
For 2022 the net tax-supported council expense was $148,158, coming in under the budgeted amount of $155,000.
“It was a bit more of a normal year; still a lot of virtual meetings, but there were some in-person events, conventions and seminars and that,” said treasurer Gordon Duff.
“So a little bit more typical, but certainly not as much as it used to be.”
Duff noted the 2022 reporting period covers only 50 weeks, because of the timing of the province-wide municipal elections.
Council received the report as information.
