Coun. Sushil Thapar motion to revisit council’s pay increase was shot down.
After heated debate surrounded the contentious decision by outgoing council to vote itself a pay increase last month, incumbent Coun. Thapar (who was the only one to vote against the motion in December) made a motion for council to take a second vote on the matter.
Nobody seconded him.
“Before talking tax increase, city has to look at top heavy operation and look for efficiencies,” Thapar said.
In December council voted to increase their pay cheques by 2.4 per cent and while some outgoing councillors spoke out against the decision, Mayor Mary Sjostrom pointed to policy.
The policy, adopted in 2005, states council pay increases is measured by the percentage increase to the B.C. Consumer Price Index.
Policy also states council’s indemnitys would be reviewed every November by the city clerks office and presented to council for consideration.
However, then Coun. Ron Paull insisted the increase should have been discussed and voted on after the new council was sworn in.
Thapar agreed and said the decision to request a second look at the decision was spurred on by the city’s debt-load.
“This pushes up the whole $7 million payroll to the next level while the city is $9 million in debt,” Thapr said.
“Plus we need to borrow $3 million for the Moffat bridge and $1.75 million for the North Quesnel storm drainage.”
Thapar also pointed to the five per cent tax hike to city utilities and the preliminary budget, looking at a a 3.6 per cent tax increase (story PAGE 2).
With the increase, council’s at $1,211.39 per month ($14,536.68 annually), with the mayor receiving $3,530.75 per month ($42,369 annually).
All figures are before taxes and deductions.
The increase adds about $3,060 to the city’s budget.
“The bottom line is we made a decision,” Sjostrom said.
“And the new council decided not to revisit it.”
