Councillors cut their own pay

ECA Review/File
Written by Stu Salkeld

After months of discussions, Kneehill County councillors approved giving themselves a pay cut at their regular council meeting March 9. 

At a January council meeting councillors talked about giving themselves a pay cut as a show of moral support for possible other cuts that may be included in the 2021 budgeting process.

Kneehill councillors have been vocal in pointing out a number of lost revenue sources in their budget, including millions of dollars in lost tax revenue from unpaid oil and gas property taxes and increased downloading from the provincial government, including increases in policing costs.

Staff brought back the proposed policy 3-1, Council Remuneration policy, and it was noted in the agenda memo that the new policy collected 13 old policies and combined them into one including convention attendance, electronic devices, committee expenses, promotional clothing and goods program, to name a few.

Essentially councillors gave themselves a 10 per cent cut in base pay while per diem was cut 15 per cent. Mileage pay was left at the industry rate.

Staff noted, if approved, the new policy would take effect for the Mar. 2021 pay sheets.

Coun. Glen Keiver asked if any councillors had heard feedback from the public about this move.

Coun. Faye McGhee stated she heard from three ratepayers who told her they felt the pay cut was unnecessary but it was a good gesture.

Coun. Wade Christie heard from one ratepayer who stated they didn’t even know councillors were paid for their work.

Coun. Ken King stated he heard from one ratepayer who also stated they felt the pay cut was unnecessary, although the ratepayer agreed with the rationale once King explained it.

Coun. Debbie Penner stated she received no feedback about the pay cut.

Coun. Keiver stated he heard from one ratepayer who felt that the pay cut was an honourable gesture but that there were a lot of other areas where cuts could be made.

Councillors unanimously approved the new remuneration policy including reduced base salary and per diem, and they also rescinded all the old remuneration policies and also tweaked how council appointees are reimbursed.

 

Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

ECA Review

About the author

Stu Salkeld

Stu Salkeld, who has upwards of 28 years of experience in the Alberta community newspaper industry, is now covering councils and other news in the Stettler region and has experience working in the area as well.

He has joined the ECA Review as a Local Journalism Initiative Journalist.

Stu earned his two-year diploma in print journalism from SAIT in Calgary from 1993 to ’95 and was raised in Oyen, Alta., one of the communities within the ECA Review’s coverage area.