UPDATE: Renumeration – more $$$

In March, the public spoke loudly and clearly that they did not support a Council base remuneration increase of 25%.  Instead, on September 5, 2024, the majority of Council approved the remuneration bylaw which, if endorsed by the Council to be elected in 2026, would see a Councillor increase in base remuneration of at least 40%.

After assessing the Remuneration Bylaw I was able to ask specific question of staff.  The responses given are estimates only as, going forward, Council remuneration will be tied to 45% of the mayor’s base remuneration which is to be the average of remuneration of the Mayors of all provincial capital cities in the months preceding a municipal election, if accepted by the Council following each municipal election. 

Here are the numbers (percentages are approximate):

  • Councillor base remuneration has shifted from 40% of Mayor’s to 45% reflecting a 12.5% increase
  • The current estimated range of remuneration of provincial capital cities mayors is $83K to $225K with an average of $166K
  • Mayor Alto’s current base remuneration is $133K. $166K represents a 25% increase (Note: with the Mayor’s 2023 CRD remuneration over $32K she already receives $166K and would be over $200K after the 2026 election)
  • Following the 2026 election, a Councillor’s base remuneration would be about $75K with CRD Directors receiving another $30K.  The CRD remuneration currently represents about a 56% boost for three Councillors
  • Acting Mayor payments of $1,750 have been approved in the bylaw. Acting Mayor assignments are on a rotating basis with each Councillor receiving 1 or 2 assignments/payments per year; 6 in a 4 year term. The newly created Acting Mayor payments take the Councillor remuneration increase to well over 40%.

These estimates should be considered as low. The yet unknown CPI increases must be added on to these estimates. But most significantly, increases in Mayoralty remunerations in other provincial capital cities cannot be expected to be stagnant; the Mayor’s increase could be over 25%.  

The Task Force which was to review Councilor remuneration and make recommendations failed us:

  • The Task Force failed to consider all Councillor duty remuneration. It did not identify the remuneration which flowed from Councillor appointments, especially to the CRD.
  • The Task Force failed to establish if Councillors work on a part-time or full-time basis.

The only adjustments I supported were those related to CPI increases, including the one forgone during the pandemic. That will fill the gap in Councillor base remuneration suggested by the DRIVE report which we received in March.

I anticipate that with implementation of the full range of increases following the 2026 election, the City of Victoria’s component of Councillor remuneration will have increased by about 50% from 2023.

As I committed months ago, any increase over 2023 remuneration which I receive during this term of office will be donated to charitable organizations which will benefit locally.   I have done so for the increase received to date in 2024.

Given the tax load on our residents and businesses owners and the current level of remuneration that Councillors receive, albeit at differing levels, I am embarrassed that there is even a discussion of paying ourselves more. 

Link to City Meeting:

Victoria City Council – Thursday September 5, 2024
F.1 Bylaw for Council Remuneration

I respectfully acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, known today as Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation

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