Two months before council is scheduled to consider a report from a citizen-led committee tasked with recommending salary hikes for the city's elected officials, a report outlining the 2022 honorariums and expenditures for council members and appointees has been tabled for council review.
Council member salaries and expenditures amounted to just over $618,000 last year while council appointees totalled $3,000.
The city says overall expenditures increased in 2022 compared to the previous year mainly due to an increased number of conferences and seminars along with the related travel expenses and meal allowances that weren't a factor when public health guidelines related to COVID-19 were still in place.
Mayor Jan Liggett's expenditures totalled $66,830, including her salary as the former Ward 4 councillor, the cost of attending conferences, conventions and seminars, and miscellaneous spending within an allowed budget.
Former Mayor Kathryn McGarry's salary and expenditures totalled $134,822.
The Hydro Board of Directors' costs totalled just under $18,000 while the library board of trustees' spend was $515.
The mayor sits on the Hydro Board of Directors. McGarry's honorarium for that role was $16,200.
All together, total honorarium and expenditures amount to $639,770.
Former councillor Shannon Adshade's total salary and expenses was $56,158, former councillor Mike Mann's was $47,787 and Pam Wolf's was $53,472.
Councillors get a base salary of $43,718.
Returning councillor Donna Reid's salary and expenses totalled $54,747 last year, while re-elected councillor Mike Devine's salary and expenditures totalled $58,766.
Coun. Nicholas Ermeta's total was $60,059, and Coun. Scott Hamilton's total was $57,409
Councillors elected last October entered the city's pay roll and began submitting expenses in November. They include Adam Cooper, $6,689; Ross Earnshaw, $6,976; Corey Kimpson, $7,037; Sheri Roberts, $7,540.
The report says the annual honorariums and expenditures for 2022 align with the city’s annual budget and approved policy.
The council remuneration committee has recommended an increase of 3.59 per cent for each councillor, in addition to cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA).
The recommended raise would have an impact of $9,500 on the 2023 budget.
Other financial implications recommended in the report will be dependant on council uptake. Eligible expenses include a Grand River Transportation pass, a home security system and meal per diems for attendance at conferences.
Council is expected to vote on the report in May.
