Payroll expenses for District of Clearwater appear to be down slightly from last year, even though the remuneration for mayor and council have gone up.
According to figures released during last Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor John Harwood’s remuneration for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011 was about $17,000, plus $3,700 in expenses. This compares with $14,000 in remuneration in 2010 and $1,900 in expenses.
Ken Kjenstad was the only council member to work through the year, as all the other members of the previous council decided not to run in last fall’s municipal elections.
Kjenstad took home $8,900 in remuneration and $5,700 in expenses. The year before the remuneration for a councilor was $7,880.
The other members of the previous council: Brent Buck, Christy Dobi, Candus Graffunder, Stephanie Teare and Bert Walker, all received about $8,500 in pay. Their expenses ranged from $4,500 for Bert Walker to zero for Brent Buck and Christy Dobi. The new members of council: Barry Banford, Merlin Blackwell, Gord Heisterman, Jon Kreke and Shelley Sim, received $343 for the few weeks they worked. Most collected about $500 in expenses as well.
Total pay for mayor and council was $70,000 compared to $61,300 the year before.
Top income earner at the municipality was former chief administrative officer Isabell Hadford, with $108,000 in remuneration and $2,300 in expenses.
Next came corporate administrator and new chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx. Her remuneration of $96,000 included wages donated to the Cancer Foundation and earning related to the municipal election. Groulx’ expenses for the year were $7,900.
Public works foreman Rob Griffiths took home $79,000 in remuneration and $2,100 in expenses.
The year before he brought home $92,000 in pay and $2,300 in expenses.
Income and expenses for employees earning less than $75,000 per year were not reported.
Total remuneration for all employees was $994,000. This was somewhat less than the $1,070,000 reported the year before.
Grand total for employees plus elected officials was $1,064,000. In 2010 the grand total was $1,130,000.