The City of Vernon’s 2014 financial report reveals some distinct approaches among elected officials.
And specifically, it’s interesting to see how they handle civic-related expenses.
“To represent the community, one simply must attend certain things that generate cost,” said Rob Sawatzky, former mayor, who submitted for expenses of $4,467.
And the case can be made that politicians shouldn’t have to dip into their own pocket while on the job representing their constituents.
Coun. Juliette Cunningham had expenses of $2,501, largely because she attended municipal conventions and conferences on a range of social issues.
“If you’re going to make good decisions, you need to be informed,” said Cunningham.
She bristles at suggestions that conferences are taxpayer-funded junkets, and points out that the expenses cover transportation, meals and accommodations but not time away from her clothing store downtown.
“It’s not a holiday. While you are there, you are working hard.”
In fact, Cunningham is one of the few, along with Coun. Catherine Lord, who regularly attends conferences out of town.
And given the complexity of running a large organization and the range of issues that surface, one could question why other council members aren’t trying to improve their skill base on behalf of residents.
Coun. Bob Spiers didn’t claim one red cent in expenses in 2014.
“I have no expenses that should be paid for by the taxpayers, and I am not a senator,” he said.
An ongoing expense for most politicians is fuelling up vehicles, but not in Spiers’ case as he doesn’t drive. If he can’t walk to a meeting, he hitches a ride.
“One-third of my salary is non-taxable (as it is for all council members) and this was intended to cover any local out of pocket expenses,” said Spiers.
The original concept behind the non-taxable benefit may have been to pick up meals or gas. But the reality is that overall salaries (they ranged from $63,126 for Sawatzky to the low $20,000s for the councillors last year) barely scratches the surface when it comes to the thousands of hours put into the public’s business.
Nobody is purchasing $16 glasses of orange juice or claiming they live somewhere they don’t.
Coun. Brian Quiring had a whopping $65 in expenses for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecast lunch.
“It would have been my entrance in,” he said.
Quiring says he never files for expenses and he suspects the $65 was flagged because staff at city hall booked his registration.
“I also don’t take meeting pay.”
However, while he doesn’t submit receipts, Quiring doesn’t make judgement calls about other elected officials and insists that the individual circumstances of each politician must be considered.
“I don’t have any issue with people taking meeting pay,” said the architect, adding that some council members have to hire staff at their businesses to fill in while they are off doing things for city hall.
“I have the luxury of going to a meeting and my office continues to function.”
In the end, it’s easy to look at remuneration at city hall and be cynical.
But unlike what’s happening in the Senate, local government expense forms are public documents and you can question mayors and councillors directly. That creates a level of transparency for all to see.
