During the final hour of a four-hour public meeting Monday, council approved a more than $7,500 annual wage increase to incoming members of council who are voted in following the Oct. 20 election.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
City councillors will make more next term, but the mayor’s salary will stand pat.
During the final hour of a lengthy meeting Monday, council approved an increase of $7,259 to the annual base salary, beginning next term. City councillors currently make $52,977 annually, moving to $60,236 when the next eight members are sworn in.
Medicine Hat’s next mayor will maintain the current annual base salary for the position at its rate of $159,176.
“I just want to say this,” announced Coun. Andy McGrogan, who is seeking to become the city’s next mayor in October, “I just want to say this for all of us that may be running again. Yes, it’s a very unfair and uncomfortable position to be in to actually vote ourselves a raise.”
Coun. Shila Sharps, who is seeking to be re-elected, says she would be happy to take on the negative feedback on voting for a wage increase for the next council.
“I think it’s better that we do it than the next council,” she said. “I can’t even imagine the amount of grief that they would go through if, on day one, they gave themselves a raise, so I’m happy to take the grief.”
“I agree with Councillor Sharps, I’m quite comfortable making this choice this evening,” echoed Coun. Cassi Hinder. “We don’t get a lot of accolades, and I’d like to say I’m very proud to have sat with my colleagues here for the last four years and I’m proud of representing the city.”
McGrogan and Coun. Darren Hirsch, who won’t seek re-election, voted in opposition to the increase.
At the beginning of council’s term in 2021, annual pay for their role was set at $45,476. That figure, which is also tied to inflation, has increased by $7,501 over the past four years and will now increase another $7,259, a total of 32.4% in four years.
Councillors also receive a per diem allowance set for $200 per day for a meeting or event of four hours or more, and $100 per day for a meeting or event of less than four hours.
According to city documents, the wage increase aligns with councillor salaries in Lethbridge
($67,010), Airdrie ($65,060) and Spruce Grove ($61,259) for the part-time position.
“I appreciate that you didn’t put us at the top. We are still in the median,” said Sharps. “So I do appreciate that because it’s still taxpayer dollars but I feel strongly that this council must make this decision for the next council.”
Part-time councillors in Camrose, Cochrane, Leduc, Lloydminster and Grande Prairie all make between $40,000 and $44,300 annually. Red Deer councillors are currently the highest paid part-time councillors in the province, with annual wages set at $76,087.
The role changes to a full-time position in cities including Calgary, Edmonton, St. Albert and Strathcona and wages are increased as a reflection.
Beginning in the second year of the next council term, the annual base salary paid to the mayor and each councillor will be adjusted on Jan. 1 of each year in accordance with the average monthly change to the Alberta Consumer Price Index in the previous 12-month period from November to October.
