Oxford County council approves pay raise for next council

By Lee Griffi

Oxford County councillors have voted to give members of the next council a pay hike.

In a recorded vote, Warden Marcus Ryan, Deputy warden Bernia Martin and councillors Brian Petrie, David Mayberry, Jim Palmer, Mark Peterson and Phil Schaefer voted in favour of the increases. Councillors Deb Tate, Jerry Acchione and Deb Gilvesy voted against the move.

“You will see adjustments recommended to all three positions – warden, deputy warden and councillor – … to maintain the 60th percentile pay target,” said the county’s director of human services, Rebecca Smith. “We are also recommending to keep the practice consistent of adjusting council’s pay based on whatever is approved for a non-union adjustment in each budget year.”

In dollar figures, the move will cost taxpayers about $40,000 in the next term of council. The warden jumps from $110,455 to $111,830; the next deputy warden will earn $46,613, up from $41,841; and eight councillors will see an increase of $3,844 to $41,336, up from $37,492.

“I’m not going to be on council, so I’m not going to be getting the raise,” said outgoing warden Marcus Ryan, who has already said he will not be seeking re-election as Zorra Township’s mayor. “I voted for it because I’m still going to be an Oxford resident, I’m still going to use the services, I’m still going to pay the taxes. I very much want us to attract and retain the best councillors we can to spend my tax dollars.”

East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer did not comment on the increase, but Woodstock and Oxford County Coun. Tait made it clear why she voted against the move.

“Times have changed and it's very hard on our residents with all the (tax) increases we have had over the years, and of course the cost of living is up.”

Gilvesy explained politics can be a difficult job at times, but she doesn’t see her role as one of employment.

“We’re not here to collect a paycheque or a wage or a salary. We’re here for public service.”

Ryan said lowering compensation in any sector does not result in increased productivity. He added more people will not be attracted to the warden’s chair without offering a good wage.

“That’s just not the way the world works. Whether you’re an Oxford County councillor or a McDonald’s worker or a farm operator, no matter what your business is, you only attract and retain better people by offering better compensation.”

Tait explained her concern is people will run for public office just for the monetary rewards as opposed to the right reasons.

“The people who are doing it for the money means we’re not getting the best people to serve the community and I’ve seen it. … We’re not the private sector and it’s not a job.”

Petrie said the workload for members of council shouldn’t be overlooked and added he treats his position as mayor of Ingersoll as a full-time role.

“I don’t know how someone would not treat it as a full-time position and be able to say you’re giving all you could give. Yes, it is public service … but you need to be able to give the time it deserves. You see the size of the agendas, the amount of reading it takes and the research; there are a lot of things going on. I don’t think this increase is extravagant whatsoever.”

Tait pushed back, saying serving as an elected official does not prevent someone from having a career outside of politics.

“You use your time wisely. … I think it’s a terrible comment to say you can’t be employed to be a mayor or something. That’s incorrect.”

“Just sharing my opinion,” added Petrie.

Some municipalities in Ontario have other methods of setting elected officials’ pay, including London and Guelph, which use independent citizen remuneration committees to review council compensation. Ottawa has a policy that ties annual cost-of-living adjustments for council remuneration to inflation, avoiding annual votes on raises. Mississauga has also used an automatic annual indexing formula for council compensation.