This year, Squamish councillors will have a bit of extra cash in their pockets.
In a split vote at a District of Squamish regular business meeting of council on Tuesday (April 17), council approved a pay raise for its members. Motioned by Coun. Bryan Raiser, the mayor's annual cheque will be bumped from $48,000 to $62,500 with councillors' pay equalling 43 per cent of that - the equivalent of $26,875.
"I've said everything that needs to be said over the last eight years," Raiser told council.
Raiser has led the charge for the increase, stating the low pay was a barrier to those interested in entering civic politics. Councillors put in up to 40 hours of work a week and the pay should reflect that, he told The Chief.
Councillors Doug Race, Ron Sander and Mayor Rob Kirkham voted against the motion. Last year, the previous council agreed to increase the mayor's salary from $37,000 to $48,000 over a two-year period, Race noted.
Although the raise amounts to approximately 0.3 per cent of the proposed 2012 budget - $55,000 - Race said he disagrees with the principle of the move. It comes at a time when the district is considering asking taxpayers to cough up an additional 7.5 per cent in property tax payments, he noted.
"This, in my view, is not the year for councillors to stand in line with their hands out and say, 'I want more,'" Doug said.
Race is donating his raise back to the district, noting he handed the municipality's chief administrative officer a cheque for $6,000.
