The cost of paying local politicians in Minto went down by just over $7,000 in 2014.
At the March 4 meeting, treasurer Gord Duff provided council with a report on council remuneration and expenses for 2014.
The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows that salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Dec. 1, 2013 and Nov. 30, 2014 totaled $128,376, compared to $135,474 the previous year – a decrease of $7,098, or just over five per cent.
The decline continues a trend that began in 2013, when council costs totaled almost 12 per cent lower than the $154,068 spent in 2012.
The recent reductions contrast with the situation in 2012 when costs were up by nearly 20 per cent over 2011, sparking considerable discussion and leading council to authorize a review of council expenses and the procedure for claiming them. The review ultimately resulted in increases in base pay ranging from 24 to 33 per cent, effective Dec. 1, 2014, approved for the mayor and councillors on Sept. 2 last year. The bylaw setting the increase also clarified the type of activities for which per diem claims are paid. Previously, functions such as grand openings and other ceremonial activities were covered under “council business,” which left a situation where some councillors were claiming attendance and others were not.
The 2014 report includes a breakdown of salary and expenses paid to individual councillors.
In 2014, Minto councillors received a base salary of $8,400, while the base salary for the mayor was $11,440 and the deputy mayor got $9,440.
All councillors were also paid $50 for each scheduled council meeting attended, $85 for other council business up to four hours, and $150 for other council business over four hours.
Other expenses and remuneration included registration fees and accommodations for conventions and seminars, and mileage for out of town travel.
Earnings (including base pay and meeting per diems) for Minto councillors in 2013 totaled $103,210 (compared to $109,796 in 2013), with expense reimbursements of $25,166 (compared to $25,705 in 2013)
Individually, the councillors were paid:
– Mayor George Bridge received earnings of $24,920 and submitted expenses of $2,897, for a total of $27,287;
– councillor Ron Elliott received pay of $15,275 and filed expenses of $5,943 for a total of $21,219;
– deputy mayor Terry Fisk received pay of $16,145, plus expenses of $3,868, for a total of $20,013;
– councillor David Turton’s earnings were $11,890, plus expenses of $4,708, for a total of $16,598;
– councillor Mary Lou Colwell received earnings of $12,970 with expenses of $3,399 for a total of $16,369;
– councillor Ron Faulkner had earnings of $11,600 and expenses of $4,338, totaling $15,938; and
– councillor Rick Hembly had earnings of $10,410 and claimed zero expenses, for a total of $10,361.
Treasurer Gordon Duff noted the total council expenditures for the year are well below the budgeted allotment of $144,000.
“We certainly had a more economical year this year,’ said Duff.
“Just for clarification, with our new structure that we have come up with, do you expect these expense to come down even more?” asked councillor Mary Lou Colwell.
“That’s correct,” said Duff. “Even (if you) went to all the conferences allowed, it would still be a slightly lower amount.”
