City manager to determine salary adjustments for city council

“Approval of this policy enables us to remove the subjectivity of annual salary reviews and adjustments for both City Council and exempt staff,” says City Manager Seabrooke. “We are introducing an unbiased, external source, from which to determine compensation changes, all in an effort to be increasingly transparent and avoid any influence by administration and management.”

Seabrooke noted that the need for a new policy was highlighted over the last year following increased debate around what external comparator organizations are doing with their salaries, the need for increased transparency, changing union settlements and agreements and overall shifts in the economy.

“Ultimately, this new policy is about ensuring we remain competitive while simplifying the process and demonstrating our commitment to transparency and equity,” he said.

Red Deer’s mayor currently earns just over $131,000 annually, while councillors make just shy of $69,000.

“Elected officials should not be voting on their own compensation,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “This policy change resolves this longstanding tension.”

Last month, city council voted to freeze their salaries for the upcoming year. At the time Veer said it was important for council to lead by example while asking city administrators to look for $15 million in savings over the next three years.

City council received a lot of heat from the public last year when they voted 5-4 to give themselves a substantial pay raise. The move was made in response to the federal government’s decision to remove a one-third tax exemption on salaries for elected officials in Canada. The end result was larger salaries Red Deer’s mayor and councillors, but essentially no change in their net pay.

(With file from City of Red Deer media release)

by Troy Gillard

City manager to determine salary adjustments for city council

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