By Pepper Parr
February 25th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a requirement of the Municipal Act that a report be submitted to Council on remuneration and expenses paid to Councillors and appointees to local boards by March 31, of the following year.
Accordingly, under the provision of the Municipal Act, the attached itemized statement is submitted disclosing remuneration and expenses for each Member of Council and Appointed Members of our Local Boards and Committees for the year ended December 31, 2023.
In 2023, each Councillor had a budget of $10,000 to cover expenditures such as meetings, printing, mileage, newsletters, postage, professional development, telephones, and advertising.
In 2023, the Mayor had a budget of $31,087 to cover similar expenditures to those listed above, excluding the costs of leasing a vehicle for business use.
In 2022, Council approved the implementation plan for the recommendations arising from the Council Renumeration Review Working Group. Through this report by-law 45-2022 was enacted to establish a Council Special Initiatives Reserve Fund. Annually deposits to this reserve fund are made reflecting unspent discretionary funds in the respective Mayor and Councillor budgets. These funds can be utilized by Council members for special initiatives as approved by the Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer.
In 2023, a draw of $1,630 was approved by the CFO for special initiatives in Ward 2. A year end a contribution of $23,139 was transferred to the reserve fund representing the total unspent discretionary budget of Council. The total balance of this reserve fund at the end of 2023 was $71,097.
Members of City Council are also members of Regional Council. They earn salaries from the Regional Level as well.
Regional data for 2023 is not yet available.
Regional Councillors received anywhere from $7,073 up to $71,933.
Burlington Ward 3 City and Regional Councillor Rory Nisan, who was elected as the Board of Directors’ Vice President at Large last month, took home the biggest pay among councillors at $71,933.
Burlington Ward 6 Regional Councillor Angelo Bentivegna ($69,220).
City Council meeting
But, as you note, this is only a portion of their compensation. They have also decided to ‘double dip’ and perform the Regional Councillor roles as well and, as a result, receive far more than what is recorded here. They are the highest paid Councillors in the Region (perhaps the Province) and they have the highest per capita representation in the Province. Does anyone believe that seven individuals can effectively represent the local and regional interests of almost 200,000 people. They have discovered the golden egg – and the poor goose be damned.
Does anyone believe that seven individuals can effectively represent the local and regional interests of almost 200,000 people. ANSWER = NO
They have discovered the golden egg – and the poor goose be damned. ANSWER = YES
Do they get pensions?
Editor’s note: Yes they do.
Council is enrolled in OMERS, the same as all City Employees, They contribute 7% of their gross, the City matches. They can collect after 55 years of age
Now that we have a more inclusive council (1 Mayor and 6 Deputy Mayors), lets spread the total comp of $665,546 across all 7 members of council? This way they would each earn $95,078. Comments.
I think we need to know more about general expense spending. How much of that spending is at the discretion of the member? Why include this along with remuneration? Other than the two outliers MMW and Stolte, nothing to see here.