Mayor Rejects Pay Hike; Budget Debate

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 09 January 2012 01:50

The city's of Vernon new budget is going to get a thorough discussion this week.  Mayor Rob Sawatzky (pictured) says two all-day meetings, which are open to the public, will be held Thursday and Friday from 9-4 at City Hall. He says staff will give input, and the details will be debated by council. "That's where we come with our basic recommendation for a tax requisition, so those will be very long days. It's a lot of work." Council has set a general guideline for the budget to increase between zero, and 2.3 percent, which is the cost of living. Meantime, Sawatzky is following up on his campaign promise to turn down a four percent pay hike approved by the previous council. A motion before council today calls for no increase for the mayor. Sawatzky said at one of the election forums in November, taking the 28-hundred dollar a year increase would be given back, given the economic conditions.