The mayor's pay has become a Vernon election issue. Council -- including current mayor Wayne Lippert -- recently approved
a 4 percent, or 28-hundred dollar, increase for the position starting
next year, to just over 66-thousand a year. At Monday night's forum, mayoralty candidate Rob Sawatzky said he would refuse the raise, saying the optics don't look good. Candidate Patrick Davies says he would donate the 28-hundred to charity, and back a two year pay freeze. Around 400 people attended the forum at the Performing Arts Centre, one of the better turnouts in recent elections. Other hot topics included the proposed road diet on 43rd Avenue,
where most of the candidates were opposed to the idea of going from four
traffic lanes to three. While most of the hopefuls backed the need for an expanded art
gallery and museum, incumbent Jack Gilroy says council has to be
realistic, and can't afford the 12 to 15 million dollars,
given the current economic climate. All 18 of the candidates were on hand, and other questions focused on
the need for a core services review at City Hall, to how to repair
regional relations, and if amalgamation should be pursued. Lippert was asked about adding 54 more city employees during his tenure. He says many of those were for the RCMP's Prime information system, and others were for services the public wanted. While Sawatzky would like to see a core review, and Davies would like
to see staffing study, Lippert doesn't see a need for those measures at
this point.
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Don Quixote Note: On page 82 of 2010 - 4.40 MB Annual Report. shows that from 2006 to 2010 (during his tenure) the NET number of Employees increased from 162 to 238.5 which is an increase of 76.5 employees not 54. (The number 54 is a possibility if you look at the period of 2007 to 2010 which shows shows a net increase of 55.5)
The net number of employees are charged directly to the taxpayers of Vernon. The gross number of employees is different. There are a group of Vernon employees that Vernon recovers their salaries from Nord (for Parks, Recreation and Water) and from other municipalities through inter-municipal agreements for community Policing. This group of employees also shown on page 55 increased from 51.4 in 2006 to 77.2 in 2010, an increase of 25.8. These salary contract employees when added to the NET number of employees give us our gross line. In 2006 the GROSS number of employees was 213.4 and in 2010 it was 315.7. Total increase is 102.3. (76.5 NET + 25.8 Recoverable = 102.3 Gross employee Change 2006-2010.) You can check out this page of the annual report that shows the changes in each department from year to year.
On Page 83 the Cost of the Salaries, wages and benefits of the NET employees is shown. The cost in 2006 was $11,086,000 and it increased to $17,692,000 in 2010. (Increase of $6,606,000)
On Page 78 you will find property tax revenue which shows an increase from $17,423,000 in 2006 to $22,856,000 in 2010. ($5,433,000 increase.)
Salaries wages and benefits as a % of Taxation revenue have increased from 11,086/17,423 = 63.6% in 2006 to 17,692/22,856 = 77.4%in 2010.
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