Local governments across B.C. have released their annual Statements of Financial Information, giving taxpayers a peek at how much they’re paying their town’s councils and employees.
Tofino and Ucluelet each published their statements earlier this month, laying out the West Coast’s municipal salaries in 2019.
Tofino and its population of 1,932 residents, according to the 2016 census, paid its municipal staff $2,425,860 in 2019, up from $2,278,323 in 2018.
Ucluelet, population 1,117, paid its staff $1,960,154 in 2019, up from $1,685,569 in 2018.
Looking at comparably sized towns on Vancouver Island, Cumberland and its population of 3,753, paid its its staff $2,359,036 in 2019, with 10 employees earning over $75,000. Cumberland’s highest paid employee was its Chief Administrative Officer Sundance Topham, who earned $129,896.
Port Hardy, population 4,132, paid its staff $2,246,512, with nine employees earning over $75,000. The town’s highest paid employee was its Chief Administrative Officer Allison McCarrick, who earned $129,944.
Ucluelet paid eight district employees over $75,000 in 2019, with Chief Administrative Officer Mark Boysen earning the highest salary at $132,068. The town’s Manager of Public Works Warren Cannon earned $92,496. Manager of Parks and Recreation Abigail Fortune earned $91,266. Manager of Community Planning Bruce Greig earned $94,256. Public Works Foreman Steven Lang earned $81,223. Chief Financial Officer Donna Monteith earned $100,829. Bylaw Officer Brent Ashton earned $77,495. Planner 1 John Towgood earned $77,041.
Tofino paid eight employees over $75,000 in 2019, with Chief Administrative Officer Bob McPherson topping the list at $161,884.Director of Financial Services Nyla Attiana earned $112,894. Equipment Operator George Hubert earned $109,009. Manager of Public Spaces, Cultural and Visitor Initiatives April Froment earned $101,305. Manager of Community Sustainability Aaron Rodgers earned $101,305. Manager of Corporate Services Elyse Goatcher Bergmann earned $93,554. Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services Brent Baker earned $87,499. Manager of Engineering and Public Works Ricardo Araya earned $86,216 before leaving the position in November.
At the council table, Tofino mayor Josie Osborne earned $33,831. Ucluelet mayor Mayco Noel earned $32,235. Cumberland mayor Leslie Baird earned $20,606 and Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas earned $28,422.
In total, Tofino paid its seven-member council $127,655.
Coun. Al Anderson earned $16,281. Britt Chalmers earned $17,796. Duncan McMaster earned $16,006. Andrea McQuade earned $16,896. Thomas Stere earned $16,731. Dan Law earned $1,648 after joining council in a November byelection held after the sudden and tragic death of Coun. Dorothy Baert.
Ucluelet’s five-member municipal council earned a combined $105,391.
Coun. Rachelle Cole earned $18,711. Coun. Jennifer Hoar earned $16,126. Coun. Lara Kemps earned $17,391. Coun. Marilyn McEwen earned $20,926.
Cumberland paid its five-member municipal council $63,378 and each of Cumberland’s four councillors earned $10,693.
Port Hardy paid its seven-member council $114,931 in 2019 and each of the town’s six councillors earned $14,501.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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