St. Marys council remuneration totals nearly $144,000 in 2025

By Galen Simmons

The members of St. Marys council were paid a total of $143,968.20 last year in salary and expenses.

St. Marys council received its annual report outlining remuneration and expenses paid to members of council during the 2025 calendar year at its March 24 meeting. Prepared as an annual requirement of the Municipal Act, the report provides a detailed summary of salaries, mileage and conference expenses paid to the mayor and councillors, as well as remuneration related to service on local boards.

“The attached schedule in the agenda outlines the remuneration and reimbursed expenses paid to or on behalf of members of council from public funds for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025,” St. Marys director of finance Spencer Steckley said. “This is a standard annual reporting item, and it is provided to ensure transparency and meet legislative compliance.”

Mayor Al Strathdee received a salary of $36,412.98, along with $935.80 in mileage expenses and $999.14 in conference and training expenses, for a total of $38,347.92.

Each councillor received a base salary of $17,188.98 with additional remuneration or expense reimbursements varying depending on board participation and travel requirements.

Councillors Marg Luna and Dave Lucas received additional remuneration related to service on the Spruce Lodge board, totalling $2,112.

Mileage expenses totalled $1,310.20 for the year, while conference and training expenses totalled $999.14.

During a brief discussion prior to receiving the report for information, members of council reviewed which public boards and committees report remuneration and expenses through the municipality and which provide compensation separately.

“I’m confused about the Spruce Lodge issue,” Luna said. “Coun. Lucas and I were paid for our expenses by Spruce Lodge, so I’m confused as to why that money is showing up in our budget. We don’t reimburse Spruce Lodge for those expenses, do we?”

“As per the Municipal Act … any expenses paid by a local board is to be included within the annual report,” Steckley said, later noting he would look into clarifying how the Spruce Lodge board members who also sit on St. Marys council are paid and reimbursed for future remuneration reports.

Coun. Fern Pridham also asked Steckley why pay and reimbursement to Coun. Jim Craigmile for his seat on the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) board was not reported as part of this annual report.

“I’m just wondering why it doesn’t appear here because it’s the same sort of thing as Spruce Lodge; you get paid by (UTRCA) but it’s public funds,” she said.

“The (Municipal) Act is pretty specific,” Steckley responded. “It mentions, specifically, local boards and I believe the Upper Thames authority is a special agency, so my understanding is they would be excluded from it. Coun. Craigmile, I believe, represents multiple municipalities. He represents South Huron and Perth South as well as the Town of St. Marys, so that’s the rationale behind the exclusion of those funds.”

Under provincial legislation, municipalities are required to annually disclose remuneration and expenses paid to members of council and local boards to ensure transparency and accountability to taxpayers.