Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 15, 2010 7:00 PM
Spending habits are being defended at Vernon city hall. The city’s 2009 annual report shows that the seven members of council were paid a total of $214,428 in remuneration and expenses. “I always like to manage the (taxpayers’) money like it’s my own, but there is a cost to doing business,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. Lippert led the pack with $70,768 ($65,153 in salary and $5,615 in expenses). “I’m making less than I did in private life but for the time I put in, the salary is more than fair for the citizens of Vernon,” said Lippert. He also insists that the expenses are necessary, especially for trips to Victoria or Vancouver to lobby officials for provincial funds for infrastructure initiatives. “You need to stay in touch with other levels of government,” he said. “They can then understand the issues of concern to us here.”
Of the six councillors, Jack Gilroy was the highest at $27,069 ($22,251 in salary and $4,818 in expenses). “I went to the police contract talks in Vancouver because the mayor couldn’t go. Policing is a huge expense for citizens,” said Gilroy of why he needed to be there. “I also went to other concerns and I can see how it adds up.” Gilroy denies that trips are a waste of taxpayers’ dollars and he says meeting with provincial cabinet ministers and others benefit residents directly. “When I make a decision, I like to make an informed decision,” he said.
Mary-Jo O’Keefe had $21,018 in remuneration and $4,602 in expenses while there was $23,210 in wages and $2,112 in expenses for Buffy Baumbrough. Shawn Lee had $21,018 in salary and expenses of $2,595. Both Bob Spiers and Patrick Nicol were paid $21,018 each for their council duties, but they did not submit any expenses. “I just don’t claim for them on principle,” said Nicol, adding that he attends numerous meetings. “I was elected under certain circumstances for remuneration and I want to honour that.”
1 comment:
Don't forget to add in Mayor Lippert's NORD salary, which was $14,257.00 + $66 in expenses in 2009.
Mayor Lippert's total 2009 NORD and City salary was $79,410 plus $5,683 in expenses.
Plus, he gets a special tax credit. Elected official do not have to pay income tax on the first ONE-THIRD of their remuneration. This tax relief is supposed to help off-set the financial and other impacts on the family/professional lives of the elected official.
Obviously we can't compel the Mayor to share his tax returns with us, but I will hereby cast some serious doubt on his assertion that he is now making less than "in private life", especially considering that he doesn't even have to pay any income tax on that first $26,470.
Instead of claiming his salary is fair, he could show some humility and grace for the average Vernon family who earns only $55K per year.
... and does this show the Mayor handling City finances as if it was his own money?
The City's population grew 7.6% from 2005 to 2009, while the City's workforce grew 41.5% over that same period.
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