City hall records higher payroll costs in 2009

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 15, 2010 7:00 PM

A Vernon politician fears taxpayers could go broke paying staff at city hall. The city’s new annual report indicates that $18.8 million was paid out in earnings, expenses and allowances to employees in 2009. Of that, there were 63 that took home more than $75,000 in earnings. “There’s a liability to sustaining staff salaries in the future,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. “The only way to sustain it is by increasing taxes and any time you increase taxes, that’s not a good thing.” The gross number of employees in 2009 was 299, compared to 267 in 2008 and 241 in 2007. The net cost of salaries, wages and benefits was $15.6 million in 2008. There were 41 employees who earned more than $75,000 a year in 2008. Spiers had sought a core review of all city services partly because of increasing staff costs, but a majority of council didn’t agree to that move. As a result, Spiers suggests the next step could be pressure from residents to examine city expenses. “I hope people will get a copy of the report, look at it and express their feelings,” he said, adding there will be a public input meeting June 28 at 5 p.m. at city hall.

Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe points out that staffing levels grew last year partly because the city took on tourism and economic development. But she admits to having a concern about the upward movement in pay. “Council has to be conscious of what the average wage in Vernon is,” she said.

The highest paid employee was chief administrative officer Leon Gous at $157,402 — $145,202 in gross earnings, $7,629 in expenses and $4,571 in allowances. Next was fire chief Jeff Carlisle at $123,688 — $110,603 in wages, $9,085 in expenses and $4,000 in allowances. Rounding out the top five were deputy chief administrative officer Marg Bailey at $118,477 in earnings, expenses and allowances; engineering general manager Rob Dickinson at $113,614; and planning and building general manager Kim Flick at $113,614. Twenty-four members of the fire department earned more than $75,000, and officials say much of that is attributed to over-time.

Coun. Jack Gilroy believes the number of employees and their compensation is necessary to keep the city running. “I look at it and go, ‘Wow,’ but it’s the cost of doing business,” he said. “If we want the proper people in proper positions, we have to pay a certain level or you’ll lose them.” Mayor Wayne Lippert insists the city isn’t top-heavy with staff and council is being responsible with tax dollars. “There’s always a concern (about increases) but the city looks at services and the staff needed to provide those services,” he said. “To put services out there that people ask for or require needs staff.”