By Pepper Parr
January 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
How much are we going to pay the members of city council?
The recommendation is to give the members of council an increase of about $500 a year
The Mayor will get an increase of $1,307.00
Members of city council debating the Adi Development Group application for a project in the Alton community. Chair of the meeting, Councillor Craven cannot be seen.
Assuming this is approved by council: yes they approve their own salary increases but it is based on a formula that was created by a citizens committee.
Councilor salary: from $54,312 to $54,882
Mayor salary: from $124,465 to $125,772
Councillor Craven chaired the Planning & Development Committee meeting.
Every member of Burlington’s city council is also a member of Regional Councillor where they are to be paid $48,901.
Thus – members of Council will earn $103,783.
The Mayor will earn $174,673.
The Mayor is provided with a car.
Every member takes part in one of the richest pension plans in the country.
The details on how the increase is arrived at are dense and arcane – they are set out below, The formula is not an unreasonable one.
Based on a method approved in 2013 which was the result of a recommendation from a committee of citizens the City of Burlington portion of Council salaries is to be adjusted effective April 1st by the percentage equal to the average annual change in the “All Goods” Ontario consumer price index (CPI) for the twelve month period October to September with the provision that the increase is to have the following limitations:
1. Any increase cannot exceed 65% of the calculated Ontario CPI percentage;
2. No increase can be granted in the event the calculated Ontario CPI amount is less than 1%;
3. Any increase cannot be greater than the increase determined for budget purposes for non-union staff compensation;
4. When no increase is taken in a year, the amount cannot be carried over
and aggregated in future years (i.e. no carry-over of forfeited increases from any year to another);
5. Overall Council may adjust the calculated increase to a lesser amount than that determined while meeting the provisions stated.
Repairs and renovations being made to city hall – the construction work isn’t what makes the place dangerous.
When calculating the eligible adjustment using the above limitations, the resulting increase is 1.05% and is calculated as follows:
1. 65% of the average annual change in CPI from October 2015 to September 2016 of 1.614% = 1.05%
2. CPI is greater than 1%
3. Non-union proposed merit increase = 3%
Therefore, Council may implement an increase up to 1.05% on the City portion of their salaries.
The city manager is paid considerably more than the members of Council.
The proposed merit increase of 3% for non-union staff seems out of sync with what is happening in the private sector. Based on The Gazette’s calculations in this article, it appears that Ontario CPI increased by about 1.6%. How can municipal employees expect to receive nearly double that in salary increases. Entitlement mentality?
Re: “Every member takes part in one of the richest pension plans in the country.” – If council members contribute to the plan, I don’t see how that would be relevant.