Kelowna city councillor Ron Cannan has opted out of the controversial wage increase approved by council a few weeks ago.
He made the revelation at councilsa国际传媒檚 May 13 meeting during a staff report recommending the appropriation of a nearly $11 million general fund surplus.
Cannan said he would like to see some of that surplus banked in a stabilization fund, noting the citysa国际传媒檚 financial plan includes an approximately 10 per cent tax increase over the next two years.
sa国际传媒淪o that our tax increases are lower for the next couple of years, closer to the cost of living. I think it would be a good idea to look at sending some of that money back into the pockets of taxpayers,sa国际传媒� he said.
Cannan added he was prepared to lead by example.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e sent an email to the city clerk and the city manager that Isa国际传媒檓 opting out of the 35 per cent wage increase, especially since we had a 4.19 per cent increase already this year.sa国际传媒�
The wage increase issue caused division and confusion among councillors as some didnsa国际传媒檛 immediately realize they had voted for the pay hike when they intended to vote against it. They were also given the option to take the increase or not.
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Mayor Tom Dyas asked staff to comment on Cannansa国际传媒檚 suggestion of a stabilization fund.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e always working hard to make sure that we have predictable and stable tax rates regardless of whatsa国际传媒檚 coming at us,sa国际传媒� said Joe Sass, director of financial services.
Sass noted the inflation that the city has experienced has been higher than the tax rate increase since COVID.
Councillors Mohini Singh, Rick Webber, and Gord Lovegrove had concerns about the amount of the increase and the opt out clause.
Singh and Webber said they would be taking the pay hike. Lovegrove was not present at Mondaysa国际传媒檚 meeting.
Council will be getting their new salaries in steps, with the mayor receiving $135,848 and councillors getting $50,535. Effective January 1, 2025, the mayor will receive $145,200 and councillors $58,080.
Councillors have until May 14 to state in writing if they will opt out of the wage increase.
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