Georgina councillors agree on salary increase

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 12, 2015
By Heidi Riedner

Ward councillors will get a salary increase, with a third of it remaining tax-free, next year.

Georgina councillors Naomi Davison, Dan Fellini, Dave Neeson, Frank Sebo and Dave Harding will receive $25,547, plus a cost of living adjustment in 2016 after passage of a new remuneration bylaw this week.

Mayor Margaret Quirk was the lone no vote after a staff report was tabled last month comparing salary levels in Georgina with neighbouring municipalities in an effort to draft a new and more reflective bylaw, as well as modernize reimbursable expenses on the books since 1994.

The report indicated Georgina’s ward councillor salaries of $22,552 was 88 per cent of the average salary for elected officials in York Region and neighbouring municipalities.

In an effort to make it easier for the public to understand what elected officials are paid, the province and a growing number of cities have dropped what some call the tax-free “perk”.

In addition, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has published recommendations, including a clear distinction being made between pay that is provided as compensation for the responsibilities of the job (salary) and accountable allowances in performance of the job (expenses), complete with public disclosure.

Salaries for elected officials in Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan are fully taxed.

Georgina council voted to maintain the current one-third tax-free allowance, which falls in line with Aurora, King, Newmarket and Whitchurch-Stouffville.