Council wages went up last year, according to the city’s statement of financial information released last Friday.
Annual earnings for councillors varied as 2011 was an election year and not all councillors – or the mayor – finished the year in office.
Re-elected councillors Andy Adams, Ryan Mennie, Claire Moglove and Mary Storry made $21,117 last year while incoming councillors Ron Kerr and Larry Samson each made $687 after taking office at the end of November.
Councillors Roy Grant and Ziggy Stewart, who were not re-elected, each took home $20,430 in 2011. Both men unsuccessfully ran for mayor and gave up their spot on council in the process.
Mayor Walter Jakeway made $2,033 last year after winning November’s municipal election while former Mayor Charlie Cornfield earned $57,955.
Last year’s earnings for the mayor and councillors represent a 1.02 per cent increase over 2010 wages.
Two years ago, all councillors received an annual pay of $20,764 while the mayor received $58,854.
Had Cornfield remained in office until the end of 2011 he would have increased his salary to $59,988 last year.
Council racked up $43,847 in expenses for attending out of town meetings.
The city also paid out a further $14.9 million to its staff.
The highest earner at city hall was City Manager Andy Laidlaw who made $146,346 in 2011.
Ron Neufeld, general manager of city operations, took home $121,527 while Dave Morris, general manager of facilities and supply, made $116,414 last year and Laura Ciarniello, the city’s corporate services manager, earned $115,426.
Deputy fire chiefs Tim Paul and Ian Baikie were the highest paid city staff outside of city hall, making $157,368 and $111,208 last year respectively.
Council’s pay cheques are bolstered by the Strathcona Regional District, which has yet to release its financial statements.
Directors are paid for each board, committee or commission they are appointed to.
In 2010 Adams did not receive any pay from the regional district while Moglove made $13,200; Storry made $13,075 and Mennie earned $1,000 as an alternate director to the regional district board.
