Regional District of Central Kootenay directors and their alternates paid themselves about 0.8 per cent more in 2013 than 2012, financial documents released this week show.
Total remuneration for the 20-member board including stipends and expenses was $810,067 last year compared to $803,817 the year before.
The 11 rural directors each earned a base allowance of $32,220 while the nine municipal directors each received $12,492 in addition to the salary they earn from sitting on their respective councils. Rates are adjusted annually based on the consumer price index, which increased 0.9 per cent between 2012 and 2013.
Directors receive additional pay for attending board meetings and chairing committees and are reimbursed for expenses while travelling on regional district business, including accommodation, mileage at 57 cents per kilometres, and up to $75 per day for meals, although they don’t always claim the full amounts.
The top earner last year was rural Creston’s John Kettle, who on top of his director’s salary, made an additional $37,291 as board chair and also had the highest expenses at $20,035, for a total compensation of $89,546, virtually the same as the previous year.
Among other directors, rural Creston’s Larry Binks had the highest expenses at $15,326 and an overall total of $52,753. Not including alternate directors, rural Castlegar’s Gord Zaitsoff had the lowest expense total at $1,544.
Among municipal directors, the highest expenses of $10,581 were incurred by Slocan’s Hillary Elliott who was vice-chair last year. On the opposite end, Silverton’s Leah Main claimed $3,776.
A chart showing a full breakdown of earnings by directors can be found below.
