Morning Star Editorial: June 17, 2010 6:00 PM
The North Okanagan Regional District’s five electoral area directors are quick to defend their compensation, and that likely comes with the territory. After all, who likes to be questioned, particularly when it’s about income. But the bottom line is the directors’ annual remuneration come from the hard-earned dollars of taxpayers in their rural areas. Certainly the money going to municipal directors at NORD should also be scrutinized because they double-dip by getting paid for council duties in their individual jurisdictions. But in the case of the rural politicians, many of their constituents have been hit hard financially. Families dependent on forestry are still reeling from the turmoil that has struck that sector for years. Many small-scale farmers and meat processors have seen their income dry up because of provincial regulations. Like in the urban centres, residents of rural communities have lost their jobs due to the recession or have seen their retirement nest-egg shattered by unpredictable markets.
There’s no question that being an elected official is time-consuming, particularly if you truly want to represent the interest of your constituents. There are meetings, and often that includes trips out of town. Any compensation should take into account the impact public life has on careers and families. Nobody wants our politicians to work for free. But when the electoral directors’ salaries get into the $30,000-range, and higher if you are the chairman of a committee, one has to wonder how many constituents are making that these days? In the end, compensation must be fair, but instead of being defensive, the directors should recognize the perceptions out there, and extend some sympathy towards their bosses — the taxpayer.
3 comments:
Where were you, editorial writer, when the Mayor was claiming his salary was fair and he makes less now than in private life? Or did you interpret that as his sympathy towards the taxpayer?
Let's compare.
Five rural directors represent a total of 17,000 residents, each for under $30K per year (excepting the Board Chair).
Seven people (Mayor and 6 Councillors) represent 36,000 residents.
Combining NORD and City pay, many councillors are in the $30K range and the Mayor rakes in almost $80,000 per year.
How many constituents make that much?
One thing the Morning Star will never be accused of is balanced writing.
This editorial is long overdue and welcomed.
The Morning Star and in particular Rolke has alot to do with the political manipulations that have taken place.The Morning Star picks up more than $120,000 from City of Vernon every year and picks up $? from Hansma for printing his paper. How much ethical journalism can we expect and how much effort does Rolke exert to avoid getting the Mayor and Administrator mad at him?
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