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A 2.4 per cent pay improve kicked in robotically Jan. 1
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Calgary metropolis councillors are preserving their pay increase, with many saying they intend to donate the extra $2,841 they’ll obtain in 2024.
A 2.4 per cent pay improve kicked in robotically Jan. 1, bringing every councillor’s annual base compensation to $120,755, up from $117,913 final 12 months. The mayor’s wage, in the meantime, will improve simply over $5,000 this 12 months, climbing from $208,707 to $213,737.
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Calgary metropolis councillors’ salaries are tied to Alberta’s Common Weekly Earnings (AWE) — a call made by an impartial council compensation evaluate committee in 2020.
Third 12 months of raises in a row
Although they voted to freeze their compensation at 2018 ranges from 2019 to 2021, councillors have obtained incremental raises within the three years since, because of the AWE. Their salaries rose 1.6 per cent in 2022, and a pair of.41 per cent in each 2023 and 2024.
Which means since being elected in 2021, the present council’s compensation has elevated by 6.4 per cent.
Whereas no notices of movement to freeze or lower the increase have been introduced ahead Tuesday, councillors debated the optics of their pay adjustment following a verbal report from employees on their compensation ranges.
“I don’t blame Calgarians for reaching out to us and taking it personally proper now, that we see a bit of extra money on our paycheques they usually don’t,” mentioned Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp.
Councillors obtained an electronic mail shortly earlier than Christmas informing them that their salaries could be going up in 2024.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek mentioned she’d heard from some councillors after receiving that electronic mail, so wished the verbal report submitted as a non-planning merchandise for Tuesday’s council assembly agenda.
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Voting to obtain Tuesday’s verbal report for the company document was not akin to voting in favour of the pay improve, Gondek informed councillors through the assembly.
Regardless, Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean mentioned he’d vote towards receiving the report, saying it will “ship the incorrect sign.”
“After a bunch of tax will increase, I believe it will be a pleasant sign to not take a pay improve however, at this level, I’m not placing forth (any movement),” he mentioned.
‘No person is forcing us to take that adjustment’
Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal questioned the timing of Tuesday’s dialogue, contemplating councillors had solely realized of their impending pay improve over the Christmas break. That meant councillors weren’t capable of talk about the increase at a public assembly earlier than it went into impact earlier this month.
Dhaliwal mentioned he’ll donate his increase this 12 months to the Calgary Meals Financial institution.
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“No person is forcing us to take that adjustment,” Dhaliwal mentioned. “If we wish to actually serve the residents . . . we have to take a look at each penny of taxpayers’ cash we spend on journey, on meals and every little thing.
“That’s the true manner of serving to Calgarians — not simply politicking over this improve.”
Others who mentioned they’ll donate their raises to charity have been Sharp, Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong and Ward 6 Coun. Richard Pootmans.
Throughout a lunchtime scrum with reporters, Wong mentioned he anticipated somebody to current a movement to freeze salaries for 2024.
Wong mentioned councillors have been fielding criticism from the general public since passing a 2024 price range in November that included a 7.8 per cent residential property tax improve, and that the pay improve would solely exacerbate these frustrations.
“I believe the general public was in search of one thing to come back ahead immediately and I used to be in search of the identical,” he informed reporters.
‘Let’s transfer on’
However although some councillors expressed dismay in regards to the optics of their pay improve, Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott advised Calgarians get good worth from their elected officers.
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Through the verbal report, employees confirmed a chart displaying that Calgary’s compensation for each councillors and mayor is similar to different Canadian cities. When accounting for his or her variety of constituents, Calgary councillors’ pay is decrease than most giant Canadian cities, the chart confirmed.
“I believe we’ve wasted about an hour of time going via this,” mentioned Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian. “When you have been to sum up everybody’s wages on this complete room, we’ve burned via the sum of money we’re speaking about.
“I don’t actually care what you guys do. You may donate it to your charity of selection, you can’t donate it, you possibly can tear up your tax receipt. No matter it is advisable do, do it, however let’s transfer on. We’ve bought a metropolis to run.”
A brand new council compensation evaluate committee will probably be struck this 12 months, in response to metropolis employees.
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