More than 315 big ones: City is now paying City Manager $315,495.00

By Pepper Parr

September 28th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

$63,099.00 – not too shabby.

That’s not the salary – that’s the increase City Council went along with paying City Manager Tim Commisso getting him to a total annual salary of $315,495.00 stating September 10th.

Commisso was a full time employee for a number of years before he went to Thunder Bay where he was City Manager. Retired from that job, came back to Burlington and worked with MNP as a consultant until Mayor Meed Ward invited him for a cup of coffee and convinced him to serve is as her interim city manager while she got about firing the then City Manager James Ridge.

After a time – city council decided to make Commisso the City Manager.

Every City Manager bring a style to the job.

Commisso decided to do away with General Managers and created the position of Executive Directors. It has worked – there are still a few of those who don’t fit in all that well – but on balance Commisso has created an organization that works.

A number of exceptionally talented people have joined the city; some of quite young.

The question many will ask: Is Tim Commisso worth $315,495.00 annually?

Doesn’t matter what you think – Council thinks he is and so that is what he gets,

With that kind of a remuneration package expect Commisso to renew whatever contract he has.

Squawk if it makes you feel better – it isn’t going to make a difference.

Tim is a big picture thinker – he believes he knows what Burlington is going to look like in a decade and is doing the work to make sure the administration can handle the really explosive growth that is taking place.

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5 comments to More than 315 big ones: City is now paying City Manager $315,495.00

  • Anne and Dave Marsden

    Does anyone else get the impression the 25% pay raise was not asked for and not welcome and was the last straw knowing the Halton tier 1 and 2 are coming up. Is Commisso taking up a Pied Piper role, time will tell.

  • Joe Gaetan

    Our City Manager is getting a 25% increase. This data from the 2022 Sunshine list shows our City Managers salary in 2022 as compared to the compensation of City Managers of other cities. Note the average drops to $270,219 when Toronto and Ottawa are removed.
    City Salary 2022 Population
    Toronto $389,980.00 3,025,647
    Ottawa $357,113.00 1,071,868
    London $280,627.00 448,051
    Mississauga $296,212.00 771,891
    Cambridge $252,441.00 117,026
    Burlington $252,396.00 159,617
    $304,794.83
    Average

    Note: The data is hard to appreciate given the layout limitations in the comments section.

    We will post the data as a short article.

  • Caren

    This is just wrong! If you do the math, our City Manager has just received a 25% yearly increase to his salary.
    How can our Burlington City Council justify this enormous increase?? We Taxpayers need answers for this as our Property Taxes continue to escalate.

  • Anne and Dave Marsden

    Those sleeping under Burlington hedgerows or having to choose between rent and food may think the timing is bad.

  • Helen

    This is disgusting. Canadians are starving, can’t afford rent / mortgages and municipalities are raising property taxes to record highs.