Oxford County Council approves pay raise for themselves

Lee Griffi, Post Correspondent

Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy was amongst the members of Oxford County councillors who voted against a motion 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 sixtieth percentile pay target,” explained 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,” she added.

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.”

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.”

Woodstock City/County Councillor 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.”

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.

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.”

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, while others have a formula tied to inflation and automatic indexing formulas.