Citizen Task Force Recommends an Increase to Council Remuneration (updated May 6, 2019)

Following a comprehensive review by a citizen-led task force, Council has accepted recommendations to increase remuneration to be closer to comparable municipalities. The Mayor’s new salary will be $92,750 and councillors’ salaries will be $39,092 annually. 

Almost half of the increase is attributed to elimination of the federal tax exemption resulting in the loss in take-home pay and the planned cost of living increase. In late 2018, Council directed staff to form a citizen task force with the mandate of conducting a comprehensive review of Council’s remuneration, not undertaken since 2007, and to propose recommendations for consideration.

A community-based task force was recruited through advertising in the local paper and a task force was established in February, 2019.

“We appreciate the thorough and thoughtful analysis undertaken by the Remuneration Task Force and their recommendations,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “Four community members met weekly to review: remuneration in comparable municipalities, Council Indemnity Bylaw No 2383, Council Policy C068 – Council Expenses and best practices. City staff played a supporting role in this process by providing relevant information.”

One recommendation included amending the Council meeting schedule to include two weeks off during spring break to align with the School District 42 schedule, however, that was not supported by the majority of Council.  The task force believes that providing a more flexible Council meeting schedule will attract individuals with different economic and social backgrounds including people with young families or day jobs. The number of Regular Council Meetings per year remains unchanged at 22, similar to 2018.

Mayor and Council Current Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance coverage will be extended to 24/7 with the addition of life insurance. This is the only change to benefits.  

The recommended increase is linked to the median employment income of full-time, full-year workers and would be adjusted in future years by the Vancouver Consumer Price Index.  Councillors’ base compensation is set at 70 percent of median employment income whereas the Mayor’s compensation coupled with additional responsibilities translates into 2.5 times higher than fellow councillors.  

After the increase, salaries for elected officials in Pitt Meadows remain significantly below the average of comparable municipalities.

Comparable Municipal Salaries 2018 & 2019

The additional cost to the City to increase Council remuneration to recommended levels is approximately $90,000 annually.  The increase amount for 2019 will be paid for by reserve funds.

For more information, please view the Council Remuneration Citizen Task Force presentation to Council on April 16, 2019.