City turns down pay increase

By Francisco Canjura - Castlegar News Published: December 16, 2008

City council unanimously rejected a 2.07 per cent increase to their salary. Earlier this year, council approved the report of an independent committee that reviewed council indemnities. The committee recommended council indemnities not be adjusted beyond an amount equal to the percent increase in the B.C. consumer price index for the 12 month period ending October 31 of the previous year. Had council voted in favour of the 2.07 increase, they would have seen a slight increase in pay. The mayor would receive, in 2008, $22,848 up from what he will receive and has received in previous years $22, 446. Council would have received an extra $201 a year had they accepted the deal. Councillor Deb McIntosh said council felt that because of the current economic situation, it would not be appropriate for mayor and council to receive an increase. “We’re happy not to take the increase and hunker down like everyone else. “We thought that was the best thing to do at this point in time,” McIntosh said. She said although the increase was minimal, council thought that was the best decision to make.“Everyone else out there is hurting as well and we’re certainly willing to not take the increase and keep the money in general revenues to maybe offer people other grants,” McIntosh said. Councillor Kevin Chernoff said he also didn’t want to take the increase this year because of the current economic times. “The citizens are hurting. Our food banks are at record numbers this year, we have a lot of unemployment and I just don’t think it was right to increase that when we can probably use those funds in other places to help the community,” Chernoff said.

However, council did agree the exempt staff salary be adjusted to reflect a cost of living increase of 2.07 per cent effective January 1, 2009. They also agreed that the rates and stipends paid to Castlegar volunteer firefighters be increased by 2.07 per cent.