Delta council has voted in favour of giving themselves a pay raise, their first renumeration adjustment in four years.
The mayor’s base salary is to increase from $154,264 to $175,264, while councillor salaries are to each increase from $62,788 to $74,399.
A staff report explained that the city sets remuneration rates based on a comparison to Coquitlam, Richmond, Township of Langley and the District of North Vancouver, four Metro Vancouver municipalities with similar populations or localized issues. A review found that the remuneration had fallen below the average of the comparators.
Subsequent to adoption, the mayor and councillors will receive a one-time payment based on the differential between the current and pre-existing remuneration to Nov. 7, 2022.
The report from staff once again brought up the fact Delta is the largest municipality in the province that continues to employ a mayor and six councillors. It’s normal practice for municipalities with populations over 50,000 is to have eight councillors.
“The reduced number of councillors has a resultant reduction in salary costs however it also results in an increased workload amongst council members. Remuneration levels should adequately compensate council members for the significant personal time and dedication required to serve in these roles,” the report notes. “The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) reinforced that the offsetting of changes to base remuneration levels that protect council from financial loss is reasonable and that remuneration levels left static in the face of changing circumstances, including shifts in cost-of-living, risk becoming barriers to participation.”
Council also endorsed a leave procedure policy that allows for leaves for maternity and/or parental as well as compassionate/caregiver absences.
