Vernon mayor defends staff salaries

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 12, 2013 1:00 AM
Vernon’s mayor denies wages are out of control at city hall. The city’s 2012 annual report shows that $21.4 million was spent on employee compensation and expenses, with 91 individuals earning more than $75,000. “With long-term union contracts and the cost of living, payouts increase over time,” said Mayor Rob Sawatzky. “Government has not grown as a percentage of tax dollars.” Sawatzky also says the municipality is responsive to residents’ needs. “A point of endless debate is how much government do you want and how much do you want it to do.” Payroll for city staff went from $18.8 million in 2010 to $20.9 million last year (sic) . Eighty-two employees earned more than $75,000 a year in 2011, up from 66 in 2010. Of those employees who earned more than $75,000 in 2012, chief administrator Will Pearce was at $101,940 in wages and expenses. Rob Dickinson, manager of engineering, was at $128,108 for salary and expenses while fire chief Keith Green was at $127,578. Including Green, 26 individuals at the fire hall earned more than $75,000 in 2012. In terms of elected officials, the city’s 2012 annual report indicates $198,109 was spent on council remuneration and expenses. “For the hours council puts in, most are very poorly paid,” said Sawatzky of his colleagues attending meetings and spending hours reading documents and researching matters. “I doubt they make $10 an hour.” Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe received a salary of $21,844 while it was $20,611 for Coun. Juliette Cunningham and $20,474 each for Councillors Catherine Lord, Patrick Nicol, Bob Spiers and Brian Quiring. Sawatzky would not discuss his own salary of $63,466 because he says any comments he made could come across as self-serving. In terms of expenses, there was $5,816 for Sawatzky, $1,715 for Lord, $1,396 for O’Keefe and $1,367 for Cunningham. Nicol, Quiring and Spiers did not submit expenses for 2012. “I just never have. It’s my contribution to the community,” said Nicol. “Each individual (council member) gets to choose what they do. It (not submitting) feels right to me.”
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2012 Draft Annual Report - 28.7 MB