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In a split vote Stettler County council approves pay increase

Pay increase passes 4-3
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In a split 4-3 vote Stettler County council passed a pay increase to offset income tax changes.

The federal government eliminated councillor’s one-third tax exemption Jan. 1 and to cover the loss in income, county council increased their pay during their regular meeting Jan. 10.

Coun. James Nibourg opposed the pay increase saying it means about a one per cent increase in taxes for county ratepayers.

“We have cut every department in our budget except ours,” said Coun. James Nibourg. “The last two years we had a $20,000 increase to our (council) budget each year and now we are proposing a $39,000 increase, which works out to one per cent of our residential taxes? I just cannot fathom how we can do this. We are saying be fiscally responsible, cut, cut, cut everywhere else except when it comes to our own pocketbooks.”

Likewise, Coun. Wayne Nixon and Coun. Les Stulberg opposed the increase.

Coun. Nixon said council asked every department to cut their budgets and said it doesn’t look good for council to give themselves a raise.

“I don’t think that plays well with the public.”

READ MORE: Stettler County hosts Coffee with Council. Coun. Nibourg opposes council pay increase

Coun. Nixon acknowledged that the federal government scrapped the one-third tax exemption of their salary but said it just puts them on a level playing field with everyone else.

“We are now on a level playing field with the rest of Alberta and our own county.”

He said pay increases should be dealt with by policy and the county should create one.

Coun. Nixon said he looked at one typical month in 2018 and tallied his hours and pay, which was $3,492.

“Wages per hour that is $41.57, which to me is not a bad wage. That’s three times the minimum wage.”

In addition, Coun. Nixon said councillors get an excellent benefits package from the county.

Coun. Cheri Neitz, Coun. Ernie Gendre, Coun. Dave Grover and Reeve Larry Clarke were in favour of the pay increase to offset the tax.

“None of us want to make this hard decision,” said Coun. Neitz. “I still think we work hard. It is only asking for us to bring home what we brought home before.”

Coun. Gendre said councillor pay needs to be adequate to entice potential candidates to run for office.

Reeve Larry Clarke said the tax deduction is a loss in what councillors negotiated and agreed to be paid.

“We need to be treated fair and equitable.”

Coun. Nixon said the Town of Stettler didn’t give themselves a raise for some of the reasons he mentioned such as being a councillor is a way of doing community service.

“And (we’re) getting pretty wall paid for it.”



lisa.joy@stettlerindependent.com

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Correction: An earlier version of this story online said Coun. Joe Gendre. It’s not Coun. Joe Gendre but instead Coun. Ernie Gendre.