During Monday’s regular council meeting, Kelowna City Council will be considering options to review council remuneration, expenses and benefits.
City staff are recommending amendments to the Council Remuneration and Expenses Bylaw to clarify the current provisions and make benefits available to all members of council and their dependents, with the cost fully paid for by the city.
The annual cost would be about $50,000 if all members of council chose to make use of this provision.
The report explains that this is a best practice that compensates elected officials for the time needed to perform their duties while reducing barriers to participating as an elected official. It also recognizes that this reduces time available for other paid work and other options for benefits.
Council typically considered reviewing council remuneration options in the first quarter of the final year of its term. The last comprehensive review happened in 2011 and the bylaw was last amended in 2018.
In 2019, the mayor’s annual indemnity was $107,525.22 and it was $38,543.33 for councillors.
In the report being presented, city staff explain that this is adjusted annually and is based on the previous year’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Vancouver.
This year, the mayor’s indemnity is $113, 690.61 and it is $38,638.69 for councillors.
Kelowna City Council has a few options for these types of reviews including reviews by staff, a consultant or citizen task force. Council can also keep the current bylaw provisions in place.
The bylaw currently authorizes the city to enter into agreements for benefits with members of council and their dependents. This package would include extended health, dental, life and accidental death.
In BC, benefits for local elected officials now may include parental leave, child care, RRSP contributions and education allowances.
Councillors pay for their premiums and the city pays for 50% of the mayor’s premiums.
If council chooses to undertake a review, any changes would come into effect for the 2022-20226 council term.
If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.
If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.
