Residents of Norfolk County Paid Just Over $ 505,000 in Compensation to Mayor Amy Martin and Eight Municipal Councillors in 2024.
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COUCIL MEMBERS GOT A SEVEN PERVE PER CHUP BUMP LAST YEAR After Voting to Freeze Their Employees in 2023 in Solidarity with Residents Facing Runaway Inflation and A Steep Property Tax Hike.
Martin Was Paid A Base Salary of $ 93.139 Last Year, up from $ 87.580 in 2023.
Conference Expensures and employ contributions to health and pension plans Busht the Mayor’s Total 2024 compensation Package to $ 118.359.
COUNCILLORS GOT A SALRY OF $ 40,830 LAST YEAR, with Slight TOP-UPS when Serving as Deputy Mayor. Their Base Pay Increased from $ 38.393 in 2023.
Included Benefits and Expensures, Councilors Earned Between $ 42,400 and $ 52,600 Last Year.
In an Earlier Interview, Norfolk’s Administrative Chief Officer, Al Menesses, Told the spectator coucillors Earn Every Dollar.
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“I Believe that our coucillors and Our Mayor are underpaid,” Menesses Said, noting the Job Goes Well Beyond to Few Meetings Each Month.
COUCILLORS PORE OVER OVER HUNDEDS OF PAGES OF STAFF REPORTS EVERY Week and Hear from Constitutions by Phone, Email, On Social Media and in Person, Menesses Said.
“You are not filling your car with Gas or Getting Your Groceries Without Someone Stopping You and Talking to You About (Local Issues),” He Said.
“They are on the clock surround the clock, and it’s a Thankless Job Sometimes.”
Councillors “Catch a lot of Heat” for decisions that divide public opinion, the Cao Added.
“You need to have a lot of courage to have these positions and take up your community,” Menesses Said.
Before this Term of Council Ends, County Staff Plans to Suggest “Salary Adjustments” for Council Members to make the Job more Financially realistic for potential candidates.
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“I think (compensation) has a huge impact on the viability of someone even considering running for office,” Menesses Said.
“When it’s a full-time job with part-time pay, you are limited in the number of people who would be interested.”
Rate of Pay “is potentialy a deciding factor” as to that working people can afford to Forgo Other Professional Opportunities to Enter Politics, The Cao Added.
“In an ideal world, Council is a reflection of the community that they serving,” Menesses Said.
“You’ve GOT A Growing, Younger Population Here. I think it’s important that you have well-redded council that set up all segments of our population. ”
NOTING THE POOR OPTICS OF POLITICIANS VOTING TO GIVE THERMSELVES A RAISE, MEESES SAID ANY SALRY HIKE ENDOCHED by the CURRENT COUNCIL WOULD NOT COME INTO EFECT UNTIL AFER THE NEXT ELECTION.
“It might be nine new (Council Members) or there might be a be Returning Ones, but I think that eliminates that aasiness of makers a decision on their own salary,” he said.
JP Antonacci is a local journalism initiative reporter based at the hamilton spectator. The Initiative is Funded by the Government of Canada.
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