Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 26, 2010 12:00 PM
Residents can attend an input session at Vernon city hall Monday at 5 p.m. about the city’s 2009 annual report. morning star file photo
A Vernon politician is urging taxpayers to speak out on what he sees as soaring wages at city hall. A public input session on the city’s 2009 annual report will be held Monday at 5 p.m. in council chambers. It includes remuneration paid out to members of council as well as staff. “I’m hoping people will read the report and give their input on the future of the city,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. According to the report, $18.8 million was directed towards earnings, expenses and allowances for employees in 2009. Of that, there were 63 that took home more than $75,000 in earnings. 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 says the increase in employees has far outpaced population growth in the community. “It’s like a straight line to the sky,” he said. “Seventy-eight per cent of the net taxes are going to salaries whereas it was 60 per cent in 2005.” Spiers continues to push for a core service review, saying it would determine if there is a better way of providing services to residents of Vernon. “Our workforce has to be examined. It’s our biggest expenditure,” he said. “The only way you can sustain something is to have revenue coming in and the main source of revenue is taxes.” The City of Vernon’s 2009 annual report is available at www.vernon.ca.
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