Victoria’s city council will get a small bump in pay immediately, with a more substantial raise to come after the next election, after council Thursday approved recommendations from a remuneration task force.
Councillors will see their annual pay jump to $53,259 from the current $52,420, while Mayor Marianne Alto’s salary will increase to $133,147 from $131,050, once a cost of living increase that was skipped in 2021 is included, as recommended by the task force.
The big change in remuneration — that councillors’ pay be calculated at 45 per cent of the mayor’s salary — will not come into effect until after the 2026 municipal election.
That change will mean councillors will be paid $58,972 a year, up from the current $52,420. Currently, councillors’ pay is calculated at 40 per cent of the mayor’s salary.
The task force, established this year to make recommendations on Victoria city councillors’ pay and benefits, also recommended aligning the mayor’s salary with those of mayors in other Canadian capital cities.
Coun. Matt Dell said council made a mistake when it tried to pass a 25 per cent pay increase in March. “In hindsight, we should have turned to an independent task force first. By implementing all of their recommendations and by ensuring that the main remuneration change happens only for the next term, I think we’ve set this issue right.”
Coun. Krista Loughton pledged to push at the fall meeting of the Union of B.C. Municipalities for support in asking the province to set standard remuneration rates for mayors and councillors.
The task force, made up of former B.C. General Employees’ Union president Stephanie Smith, former city councillor Margaret Lucas and Victoria Native Friendship Centre executive director Ron Rice, was established after backlash to the proposed 25 per cent raise.
Other recommendations that were approved Thursday include consumer price index adjustments each year, that councillors get an extra $1,750 per month when taking on the role of acting mayor, that flat-rate per diems be considered for councillors to attend committees and that city staff explore improvements to health and wellness benefits including retirement savings options.
The recommendation of a $5,000 annual allowance for travel and education was referred for further consideration.
Councillors Marg Gardiner and Stephen Hammond both opposed the remuneration recommendations.
Gardiner said the task force did not take into account the fact some councillors get paid as CRD directors and for sitting on other boards. She also said the task force failed to establish if councillors work part-time or full-time.
“Given the tax load on our residents and business owners and the current level of remuneration the councillors receive, albeit at different levels, I’m embarrassed that we’re even having a discussion of greatly increasing remuneration levels,” she said.
