Politicians salaries in Osoyoos will stay put

ALJE KAMMINGA/Special to The Pentiction Herald
Tuesday, October 18, 2011Salaries for Osoyoos‘s mayor and councillors are fine the way they are, says a committee asked to review and recommend salary levels for the incoming council.  The committee, made up of three Osoyoos residents – two of the original five stepped down – said no to a salary increase for the mayor, no to a salary increase for the four councillors and no to any adjustment in the out-of-town per-diem rate of $100. However, they did vote to maintain annual cost-of-living salary adjustments and to add a half-day per-diem rate for out-of-town meetings.  On Monday, council thanked the committee and voted unanimously to accept its recommendations. It also accepted a separate suggestion that a similar committee be established every three years, preferably a few months before the municipal elections.  Other than the annual cost-of-living increases, the mayor and council members have not had a salary increase in more than five years. A bylaw amendment passed in May 2006 set the mayor‘s base salary at $20,811. Councillors receive $13,827. With the cost-of-living increases factored in, the mayor now receives about $22,772, while councillors earn approximately $15,130. One-third of those totals are tax free.  The mayor and councillors receive health-care benefits and accident insurance similar to that town staff. They also have an option to buy additional coverage for family members. And, they receive $100 a day when representing Osoyoos at meetings out of town. The remuneration committee did not address health-care benefits.  In his presentation to council, committee member Roy Wood said councillors in Osoyoos were the highest paid of those in the 16 communities surveyed. The average, he said, was just over $11,000. The mayor‘s salary was fourth highest.  Mayor Stu Wells applauded the committee for its efforts, adding that he felt it was the duty of the outgoing council to help set the pay scale for the new council “since they wouldn‘t have a clear understanding of what is going on with council.”  Based on their interviews, councillors were split on whether they were being adequately compensated.  “A soft no. It takes a lot of time to be a good councillor,” was one comment.  Another, while “not unhappy,” said “we are not paid enough.” A third said the salary was fine and “the health-care plan is great.” There was also some diversity in how much time councillors spend on town business. One estimated 128 hours a month, and the others estimated between 70 and 90 hours. Mayor Stu Wells told the committee his time commitment is between 160 and 240 hours per month.