Truro town council votes in favour of raises

TRURO - Truro's municipal politicians are getting raises and a mechanism for future increases has been put in place.
Town council voted unanimously Monday to approve a report and recommendations from Halifax firm Integrated People Solutions. It calls for each position to receive an increase after comparing Truro with five towns (Amherst, New Glasgow, Bridgewater, Kentville and Wolfville) with similar responsibilities to ensure a fair and equitable compensation system.
While Truro is the largest town in Nova Scotia it did not have the highest paid politicians and two of the three roles were the lowest paid among their counterparts of the other towns.
The mayor will now make $30,980.78, the deputy mayor $20,121.69 and the five councillors $17,883.51.
The raises still do not put the politicians at the head of their class with the mayor and councillors the second highest paid among their counterparts in the five municipalities and the deputy mayor third.
"I think your study is bang on," deputy mayor Greg MacArthur said.
Other council members said it was a tough position to be in, voting for their own raises, but were more comfortable doing so based on an outside agency's recommendation.
The last salary increase occurred in 2003. The raises will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009 to take into account that council had looked at the issue for the past couple of years but did not make a decision before Monday.
That will mean an increase of $31,270 in what taxpayers are paying their politicians for the current year.
Mayor Bill Mills asked the firm's Kim Hominchuk if the increases would help attract others to run for public office. She said compensation recognizes the knowledge, skill, ability and experience needed.
"The current salaries really didn't reflect the nature of what is required for the position," she said.
"In terms of being able to think about the future, having a salary that is more in line with what the duties are does allow for that opportunity to attract people to the position."
Politicians' salary will be adjusted annually by the cost of living and a third of their salary is tax-exempt as set out by the Municipal Government Act. The salaries will be reviewed every four years by a committee comprised of the chief administrative officer, a specialist in human resources or compensation, a representative from another municipality and the public.
Another mechanism of the new system will see the deputy mayor make between 64 to 67 per cent of the mayor's salary and councillors make 54 to 57 per cent of the mayor's salary.

jmalloy@trurdaily.com

Sam: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:11

Hey Jeff - either discuss the topic at hand or climb back into the dictionary you came from.

As for the pay increases passed by Truro Council, does this now mean we will see an increase in viable candidates in the next election? I'd be surprised if that was the case. That said, based on what has been written of the study undertaken it looks like these increases were warranted.

That said, I'm still not sure I'd want to undertake the responsibility of these positions for the money these people are making. That just tells you that these people aren't in it for the money - they do care.

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Sam: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:01

While I'd like to be involved in town politics, at this point it can't happen. I need to support my family which means keeping doing what I do now and that already takes me 50 plus hours a week. Now if I make it to retirement .........

flogger: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:57

That-being-said Sam Daniels from Truro, ever consider running? You seem to have a lot of insight into the inner workings of local 'politics' ...

jeff: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:47

Both you guys need to learn to spell.

Mel: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:45

Well considering most of them have other jobs that pay well (Even the mayor worked at the radio station for over 20 years and just left that job) I would have to say they are definitley in it for the money, considering they did just take a vote on wether they should make more money or not.

The mayors big concern now is gay people meeting at the top of Wood St. So basically as taxpayers we are paying him more money to fulfill his dream of having every gay person banned from Truro.

Wes: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:44

RM, do you pay Truro taxes? Last time I looked people in Onslow were considered County, what do you pay your Mayor and Councillors there? Is it around the same, or more, I am just woundering.

sharon: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:42

Co-incidence? HRM is getting a nice back- pay package as well,seems they were also undervalued.
Is this the strategy that was planned at the meeting of municipalities earlier this year in BC,yes lot's of bang for our buck.

J. McCabe: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:41

A pay raise for a group of narrow minded councillors who are more interested in the people at the top of the hill than the people in the lower part of Truro. No point in even bothering to attend Town Council meetings because everything is decided by the richies and the hill people before the members even meet.

R: - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:31

Finally get full agreement and support on an issue from all members of the councel! Who would have guessed it would involve a matter of personnal gain for each of them. Merry Christmas. Now if only we could get such enthusiasm on issues which benefit the people they represent!