We rarely see our Minto reporter get flustered, but this past week Pat was shaking his head a little.
After a review earlier this fall and a newly established remuneration rate approved for incoming council members, Minto council granted itself another raise.
As is the custom elsewhere, it was recommended the new base rate be tied along with the annual increase given to staff. In this case it was two per cent. Going forward that seems a reasonable way to ensure the base rate doesn’t get too far out of line.
The old rate had not been reviewed since 2007, which made the new rate passed in September seem like a drastic jump. It is far more palatable for the budget and ratepayers alike to see modest gains regularly rather than dramatic make-up increases.
Where we think our reporter got a little annoyed was a throwaway comment at the meeting when councillor Ron Elliot suggested “2% of nothing is nothing.”
That may be true, but 2% of $80,500 – council’s total base pay – is $1,610. That actually is something.
We don’t begrudge councillors their dues, but it seems to us council may have been better served waiting one year at its new base level, before implementing the automatic annual increase. Sometimes in politics, perceptions are more important than the decision itself.
Speaking of money
Life isn’t easy for lots of folks.
We struggle a bit with the genesis of the widening gap between rich and poor.
It seems to us much of that started back in the Mike Harris days, when property tax reforms turned the world upside down.
For many, the security of home ownership was part of the blueprint to retirement.
With record-high property taxes and hydro charges, operating a home is a significant drain on cash flow. Add in the cost of general repairs and maintenance, and owning a home can become a burden.
Let’s face it, investments for most people are negligible. Interest rates may be low and benefit consumers, but for investors, decades are needed to see any return on investment.
Some might even argue that if inflationary costs are taken into account, current retirees are actually falling behind each year.
A problem looms, whether people want to talk about it or not.
