MINTO – The total cost of paying local politicians in Minto decreased by nearly $12,000 last year.
On April 19, treasurer Gordon Duff provided a report on council remuneration and expenses for 2021.
The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Dec. 1, 2020 and Nov. 30, 2021 totalled $137,057.
That’s down from $148,770 in the same period in 2020-21.
The decrease of $11,713 represents a drop of about eight per cent from the previous 12-month total.
The decrease continues a downward trend, as the cost of compensating council members was $166,464 in the 2019-20 reporting period.
Mayor George Bridge received a base salary of $18,826 last year, plus meeting per diems of $14,192 and convention and seminar expenses of $1,373, for a total of $34,392.
Deputy mayor Dave Turton received a base salary of $15,182, plus $3,685 in meeting per diems and $437 in convention and seminar expenses for a total of $19,304.
Payments for councillors were:
- Ron Elliott: base $12,753, per diems $4,930, conventions and seminars $0, total $17,683;
- Judy Dirksen: base $12,753, per diems $4,567, conventions and seminars $1,073, total $18,394;
- Jean Anderson: base $12,753, per diems $3,233, conventions and seminars $610, total $16,597;
- Geoff Gunson: base $12,753, per diems $3,729, conventions and seminars $342, mileage zero, total $17,216; and
- Mark MacKenzie: base $12,753, per diems $2,480, conventions and seminars $249, total $15,482.
The report indicates per diem rates are: $60 per council meeting, $98 for specific meetings under four hours and $173 for specific meetings over four hours.
“‘Meeting’ is rigidly defined to include standing and appointed committees, conferences and conventions, and educational sessions as approved by the mayor,” the report notes.
For 2021 (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) the net tax-supported council expense was $117,622, lower than the budgeted amount of $155,305.
The report notes pandemic-related travel restrictions and reduced opportunities for training and learning “contributed greatly to the reduced expenditures.”
”I think we had about the average number of meetings, but then of course travelling or other conferences were almost non-existent … so many things were virtual,” Duff told council.
Council received the report as information.
