Remuneration for Minto council members over $180,000 in 2023

MINTO – The total cost of paying local politicians in Minto increased by over $13,000 last year.

On March 5, treasurer Gordon Duff provided a report on council remuneration and expenses for 2023.

The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Nov. 16, 2022 and Nov. 15, 2023 totalled $181,256.

That’s up from $167,601 in 2021-22, a difference of $13,655 (8%).

Mayor Dave Turton received a base salary of $30,676 last year, plus meeting per diems of $392, convention and seminar expenses of $1,371 and mileage of $285, for a total of $32,726.

Deputy mayor Jean Anderson received a base salary of $20,922, plus $2,001 in meeting per diems and $1,351 in convention and seminar expenses for a total of $24,344. Anderson did not submit any expenses for milage.

Payments for councillors were:

• Ron Elliott: base $19,953, per diems $3,114, conventions and seminars $7,232 and mileage $817, total $31,117;
• Judy Dirksen: base $19,953, per diems $790, conventions and seminars $1,629 and mileage $241, total $22,614;
• Geoff Gunson: base $19,953, per diems $1,851, conventions and seminars $3,747 and mileage $423, total $25,984;
• Ed Podniewicz: base $19,953, per diems $0, conventions and seminars $50, mileage $42, total $20,045.
• Paul Zimmerman: base $19,953, per diems $1,436, conventions and seminars $2,791, mileage $244, total $24,424.

Duff’s report notes salary is adjusted annually in line with the cost-of-living increase, if approved, for municipal staff.

Per diems are now only paid for attendance at events outside of regularly scheduled council meetings.

Councillors are eligible to enroll in the OMERS pension plan. The report notes the town’s share of council members pension premiums for this period was $9,467.

Councillors may also use a health care spending account for up to $2,000 per year.