Perth County council approves phased-in pay raise for warden, deputy warden and councillors

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As of 2027, after next year’s municipal elections in all four of the county’s lower-tier municipalities usher in new councils, members of Perth County council will begin seeing an increase to their base pay.

Based on a market review of pay for the wardens/mayors, deputy wardens/deputy mayors and councillors of 11 comparator municipalities – Lambton, Lennox and Addington, Dufferin, Grey, Bruce, Middlesex and Peterborough counties, as well as all four of Perth County’s lower-tier municipalities – Marianne Love of ML Consulting recommended the county increase the base pay for warden, deputy warden and councillors to the 45th percentile of its comparators – the same percentile target used by the county to adjust pay for non-union management staff.

“The 45th percentile is … the dollar amount where 55 per cent of the (comparator pay) values are above and 45 per cent are below,” Love said. “So, this is not the highest, this is not the lowest, it’s not the middle; it’s below the middle of that group. … The base-pay rates for the council elected officials in the County of Perth are low, and it’s something for council to consider as you move into the next year of council.”

In 2025, the warden is paid a base salary of $31,614 and councillors are paid $14,490 with no distinction for the position of deputy warden. Following her remuneration review, Love recommended increasing the warden’s base pay to $39,606 plus inflation and cost of living adjustments (a 25 per-cent increase); increasing the deputy warden’s pay to $25,114 plus inflation and cost of living (a 73 per-cent increase); and increasing councillor pay to $22,771 plus inflation and cost of living (a 57 per-cent increase).

While councillors saw the need to increase council pay, each spoke in favour of reducing the impact of a council pay increase on the taxpayer, opting for a phased-in approach from 2027-2029.

“It probably does need to be adjusted and, if you’re going to adjust it, I think you have to phase it in over a period of time; I don’t think it’s something you can do in one or two years,” said Coun. Walter McKenzie, who represents West Perth on county council. “I think you have to phase it in even over a whole term of council. There’s no question, as it’s been said, (Perth County has) the lowest (pay) of all the (comparator) counties, so that tells you something.

“I think to continue to get quality representatives on council, you’ve got to (pay them) properly.”

Ultimately, council voted in favour of the pay increase beginning with 50 per cent of the total increase in 2027 to bring council pay in Perth County closer in line with other counties, and then 25 per cent of the increase in 2028 and the final 25 per cent in 2029. Council opted to phase the pay increase over three years instead of the four-year term of lower-tier councils so the increase will be fully implemented before the next review of council pay set for 2030.

Though Love did not recommend any increases to council benefits, allowances and meeting or event per diems, councillors had a few suggestions of their own.

“The professional development (allowance) was set maybe 10 years ago next year, in 2016, and obviously, the hotel rates, the registration rates have increased,” said Coun. Jerry Smith, who represents Perth East on county council. “That would be the spot where I think an increase would be needed.”

“I think if we increase anything, I would like to see the per diem increase if we go to an event because for all of us, especially if you work for another person, if you give up that pay and if you have a family, some of the councillors can’t afford to do that,” added Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz, also a representative of Perth East. “If they only get, say, $130 from us or $240, whatever it is, they’re actually leaving their full-time job. They’re making, I’m sure, more at that job in that same time period. I’m wondering if we should just be upping that.”

Currently, the warden is provided a maximum of $6,000 per year and councillors are given a maximum of $4,000 per year toward professional-development costs. All members of council are offered per diems for conferences, workshops and other training events at $210.18 for a meeting that lasts over four hours and $138.84 for meetings under four hours.

Council voted to have staff review the professional development and per diem rates with Love’s assistance to determine potential increases to both.