Cumberland Council backs pay rise to meet average – Comox Valley Record
Cumberland Council is considering a pay rise for 2023.
The issue of compensation was on the agenda for the January 10 meeting, providing the board with an opportunity to consider the issue in the final year of its term.
After discussion, board members supported an increase to $14,596, plus the BC Consumer Price Index annual increase for 2021 and 2022. The decision is to bring them in line with the average of communities of approximately the same size. At the same time, they want to increase the mayor’s salary amount to 40% more than that of a council member. These changes would come into effect for 2023.
Current rates for mayor are $22,287 for 2021 and $11,565 for council members, with a 4% increase set for this year, meaning a salary of $23,179 and $12,028 , respectively. The review at this stage only considers compensation and not other benefits. The Board last reviewed the amounts in 2018 and 2019.
“I just don’t want to see it fall back,” Mayor Leslie Baird said. “I want it high and comparable to other communities.”
In addition to various compensation options, staff provided council with comparisons of what similarly sized municipal governments pay elected officials, as well as those in this region.
“What was put before the board are a number of considerations,” chief executive Clayton Postings said.
A chart compares Cumberland’s pay to BC communities of about 2,000 to 5,000 people, with the average salary for mayor being $25,584 and councilors $14,596, or about 57% of what win the mayor. Among the communities included are Port Hardy, Duncan, Tofino, Lake Cowichan and Lantzville.
In the area, the mayor of Courtenay earns $75,090 and councilors earn $26,309; mayor of Comox, $43,263, and councilors, $24,786; mayor of Campbell River, $78,955, and councillors, $30,004; the mayor of Parksville, $53,550, and councilors, $31,110; and the mayor of Qualicum Beach, $46,966, and councilors, $35,225.
In the fall, Comox voted to increase its compensation.
As it is an election year, the rationale for the moment is for the council to set a raise for the next council, a practice that other municipal governments use.
“It’s the last year of the term, so it’s the year to do it,” the adviser said. said Jesse Ketler.
As part of the motion, council agreed to the idea of forming an independent committee of residents that will review compensation each election year and propose changes that will take effect in January following the election.
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Cumberland Municipal Politics
