Kelowna City Council are set to decide if they should raise their wages.
On Monday, May 28th a proposal will be put forth that will bump the Mayor's salary by $12,000 and $3000 for City Councillors. It’s not an increase based on merit or cost of living. It’s a reaction to what is essentially a pay cut. “The Federal Government removed the allowance that one-third of their income is non-taxable and what that means is the net pay for the Mayor and Councillors will be reduced. What the City is doing is looking at making them whole by replacing that lost income,” explained Genelle Davidson, Divisional Director of Financial Services.
Davidson added, “Staff have don’t extensive research throughout the Province of BC to determine what other municipalities are doing in regards with this change and we’re following the norm practice.”
If passed the Mayor's wage would rise from $95,695 to $107,525 and Councillors would go from $33,493 to $36,543.