COUNCIL REMUNERATION Council Report
Staff report recommending adjustments to the remuneration for the Mayor and Councillors effective January 1, 2023.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council DATE: August 25, 2022 FROM: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer MEETING DATE: Sept. 06, 2022
COUNCIL REMUNERATION
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council remunerations be adjusted establishing the Mayor’s remuneration at $44,687 per annum and Councillors’ remuneration be established at 50% of the Mayor’s remuneration ($22,343.50) plus an adjustment to both rates based on the change in Victoria CPI for 2022 and that both rates become effective January 1, 2023.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To establish an adjustment to Council remuneration.
TIME CRITICAL:
It is advisable to adjust Council remuneration prior to an election rather than afterwards.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of View Royal Policy states that “Every four years, prior to the election, a market survey will be conducted to establish the level of remuneration for the newly elected in-coming Council”. “Any changes to the level of remuneration for Council members will be effective January 1 following the election.”
Each year (excluding the year following the election), Council remuneration is adjusted by the amount of percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Victoria, published by Statistics Canada for the preceding twelve (12) month period ending in December.
Council remuneration was last reviewed July 17, 2018, with adjustments made effective January 1, 2019.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Staff engaged Jo MacDonald HR Consulting Services to complete the survey and make recommendations. The survey was conducted using the following locations (see table below). The 2014 and 2018 reviews both included these locations in the survey information.
| Community | Population 2021 Census | Expenditures 2021 Year End | Area Hectares | Expenditures per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Saanich | 17,385 | $ 28,938,358 | 3,861 | $1,665 |
| Colwood | 18,961 | $ 26,370,741 | 1,474 | $1,391 |
| Comox | 14,806 | $ 23,631,476 | 910 | $1,596 |
| Cumberland | 4,447 | $ 8,131,187 | 2,862 | $1,828 |
| Duncan | 5,047 | $ 9,401,730 | 102 | $1,863 |
| Esquimalt | 17,533 | $ 36,021,934 | 932 | $2,055 |
| Gibsons | 4,758 | $ 9,681,799 | 318 | $2,035 |
| Highlands | 2,482 | $ 3,458,196 | 2,052 | $1,393 |
| Lake Cowichan | 3,325 | $ 5,652,761 | 742 | $1,700 |
| Langford | 46,584 | $ 68,561,269 | 1,240 | $1,472 |
| Metchosin | 5,067 | $ 5,787,937 | 6,800 | $1,142 |
| North Saanich | 12,235 | $ 19,860,353 | 3,029 | $1,623 |
| Oak Bay | 17,990 | $ 43,372,131 | 1,031 | $2,411 |
| Parksville | 13,642 | $ 26,665,437 | 904 | $1,955 |
| Port Alberni | 18,259 | $ 38,521,066 | 1,218 | $2,110 |
| Saanich | 117,735 | $ 215,737,471 | 6,481 | $1,832 |
| Sidney | 12,318 | $ 23,298,801 | 300 | $1,891 |
| Sooke | 15,086 | $ 16,580,169 | 5,810 | $1,099 |
| Tofino | 2,217 | $ 10,540,580 | 1,099 | $4,754 |
| Victoria | 91,867 | $ 216,692,762 | 1,148 | $2,359 |
| Median | 14,224 | $ 23,465,139 | 1,150 | $1,650 |
| View Royal | 11,575 | $ 18,810,721 | 691 | $1,625 |
The survey report is attached. The survey information describes remuneration details for municipalities in our region for 2022. Our intention is to establish new rates effective January 1, 2023.
The survey shows:
| Metric | Mayor | Councilor |
|---|---|---|
| Average | $ 47,430 | $ 22,032 |
| 50% Median | $ 34,415 | $ 16,848 |
| 75% Quartile | $ 44,687 | $ 25,599 |
The consultant recommends that the remuneration for the Mayor be established at the 75% quartile ($44,687) of the surveyed municipality responses. The consultant also recommends that the 75% quartile number be adjusted by the change in Victoria CPI for 2022 to establish the appropriate rate for 2023.
The consultant has recommended that the remuneration for Councillors be established at 50% ($22,343.50) of the Mayor’s remuneration. The range of percentages is a low of 36% in Langford to a high of 66% in Metchosin. The most used percentage is 50%.
Historically the survey information in 2014 and 2018 used the same municipalities. The approach was a bit different in that Victoria and Saanich numbers were treated as outliers and excluded in the calculations of average remuneration. I believe this approach was one that intended to address affordability given that calculated outcomes were lower. This approach is not recommended by the consultant.
For information purposes the following rates would be calculated if Saanich and Victoria were excluded from the calculation consistent with 2014 and 2018 approaches:
| Revised calculations: | Mayor | Councilor |
|---|---|---|
| Average | $ 39,021 | $ 19,051 |
| 50% Median | $ 33,719 | $ 16,625 |
| 75% Quartile | $ 44,687 | $ 25,599 |
Historically the mean was used as the basis of increases for Council remuneration. It is interesting to note that the 75% Quartile does not change for the Mayor remuneration analysis in this revised presentation.
ALTERNATIVE TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council remunerations be adjusted establishing the Mayor’s remuneration at $39,021 per annum and Councillors’ remuneration at $19,051 plus an adjustment based on the change in Victoria CPI both effective January 1, 2023.
SECOND ALTERNATIVE TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council establish a different adjustment be made to Council remuneration effective January 1, 2023.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council remunerations be adjusted establishing the Mayor’s remuneration at $44,687 per annum and Councillors’ remuneration be established at 50% of the Mayor’s remuneration ($22,343.50) plus an adjustment to both rates based on the change in Victoria CPI for 2022 and that both rates become effective January 1, 2023.
SUBMITTED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer
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