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Port Alberni city council votes for pay raise

Increase of 1.87 percent will not affect 2017 budget
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City council members voted to give themselves a pay raise of 1.87 percent last week following recommendations from the city’s chief administrative officer.

The increase also applied to exempt city employees, or non-union employees.

City CAO Tim Pley pointed out that it is a city policy and and bylaw that on an annual basis the CAO writes a report to council making recommendations on increases for exempt employee salaries and increases for mayor and council remuneration.

“In order to prepare for this report we canvassed some comparative communities,” he said.

These communities included Campbell River, Cranbrook, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Powell River, Quesnel and Squamish.

“You can see that fairly consistently in these comparative communities, mayor and council remuneration increased 1.87 percent, effective Jan. 1, with the exception of Campbell River,” said Pley.

Effective Jan. 1, 2017, Port Alberni’s CUPE members received a 2 percent salary increase and the city’s IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) received a 2.5 percent salary increase. The 2016 BC CPI (consumer price index) also increased by 1.87 percent.

Pley recommended based on this report for council to increase remuneration by 1.87 percent.

He said a one percent increase was included in the 2017-2021 financial plan, so the added funds of $26,000 would not affect this year’s budget.

“We’ve realized some lower than expected costs on employee benefits, and so we can more than accommodate that increase,” he said.

Councillor Chris Alemany commented, “I always feel very uncomfortable when we’re voting for our own salaries. Increase or decrease, I think it’s inappropriate. But it is the system that we’re in. I think the system should change.”

Alemany did end up voting for the increase, along with the rest of council.

Typically, one council will vote on a raise that won’t kick in until the next council is elected.

The director of finance, also released the statement of financial information for 2016, which included the remuneration and expenses paid to or on behalf of each city employee.

Thirteen city staff members had salaries of more than $100,000 in 2016. Six of these were fire captains and seven were city managers.

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com



Elena Rardon

About the Author: Elena Rardon

I have worked with the Alberni Valley News since 2016.
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