Poor optics at city hall

EDITORIAL Morning Star June 15, 2010 7:00 PM

The numbers at Vernon city hall are staggering. A total of $18.8 million was paid out to 299 employees in 2009, up from $15.6 million for 267 in 2008. Of that, 63 individuals earned more than $75,000 last year, far outstripping the 41 in 2008. Now there will be some reasons for the new bodies, including taking over the economic development and tourism functions from the regional district and moving into areas like transportation demand management. Twenty-four members of the fire department took in more than $75,000 but much of that is directly related to over-time costs. Certainly the case can also be made that it takes a certain number of people to provide services that residents require or demand. And given competition from other municipalities and the private sector, wages must be competitive. But the growth in both jobs and salaries at city hall seems drastically out of touch with the reality facing taxpayers.

Many residents have lost their jobs during the recession, or their cheques have been frozen. Many seniors took a financial hit with the stock market turmoil. Demand is up at almost every social agency in town, including the Upper Room Mission and the homeless shelter. Many of the people walking through the door at the food bank have never been there before and some of them are children. Obviously city employees should be compensated fairly, and the salaries they earn go right back into the local economy. Civic workers are known for generously supporting those charities who help the less fortunate. But at a time when many people are struggling financially and the overall tax burden keeps climbing, the perception coming out of Vernon city hall is not a good one.