Councillors will see a 20-per-cent increase in their pay after the fall election.
The decision came during their regular meeting July 9 after recommendations from an ad hoc committee that researched comparative rates for councillors and committee members around central Alberta.
Councillors appointed to a committee will receive a flat rate of $70 with no time limit, and the hourly rate for other meetings was raised to $35 from $30, which was lower than the average rate of $33.44.
The committee recommended the mayor receive a $25,500 annual honorarium, councillors, $14,400. The current average honorarium is $20,911 for the mayor and $11,749 for councillors.
Information in the document states the Town of Ponoka’s remuneration is low and has fallen behind similar communities.
“Ponoka is striving to embrace excellence throughout the organization and wants to promote average or above average recognition for the efforts of council and staff.”
Coun. Loanna Gulka had some concern over voting to give herself a raise. “I have a hard time being asked to vote.”
However the effective date of the raise is Oct. 29, after the fall election.
Coun. John Jacobs had no issue voting as he does not intend to run for council again and feels the raise is positive. “It might entice some people to run for council.”
The province should really be setting remuneration rates, said Coun. Rick Bonnet. He feels councillors should not decide on what they make. “It’s not a big dollar that we make here but at the same time we’re not here for the dollars.”
Bonnett takes issue with the fact the Municipal Government Act (MGA) outlines what councils can do but there is no set pay schedule for them.
Mayor Larry Henkelman agreed as there is a large discrepancy with how much councillors earn throughout the province. The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association AUMA) is working with the provincial government to make changes to the MGA.
“There is a huge discrepancy between councillors in urban areas and councillors in rural areas,” stated Henkelman.
Comparable rates in the report show the average annual pay for the mayor of Olds is $31,800 and Stettler is $20,000. Councillors’ pay by comparison are $17,400 for the former and $13,333 for the latter.
Per diem rates for Ponoka are recommended to stay at $260 for a full day and $130 for half a day (up to four hours) as they are above the average. Mileage to events such as a parade where a councillor or the mayor represents Ponoka will be paid as well as half a day per diem. Attendance must be approved by the mayor.
Councillors will receive $260 for the AUMA convention and the mayor will receive $110 per day as an entertainment expense. However receipts must be submitted for the entertainment expense.
The town will not reimburse expenses paid for by another agency.
These are the 2012 amounts paid to councillors after expenses:
• Mayor Larry Henkelman - $31,203 including benefits and allowances.
• Coun. Doug Gill - $18,297
• Coun. John Jacobs - $16,805
• Coun. Shayne Steffen - $17,003
• Coun. Rick Bonnett - $16,324
• Coun. Loanna Gulka - $ 18,814
• Coun. Izak van der Westhuizen -$13,458.