A public committee is reviewing the salary and benefits of Banff politicians ahead of the 2017 municipal election.
The third-party council compensation review committee – made of up Banff residents David Bayne, Brian Smythe and Connie MacDonald – is expected to have recommendations to council in June.
Town officials say the committee is building on the extensive work the former committee did in 2013 to consider whether council remuneration is still at appropriate levels or not.
“They’re also looking at other comparable municipalities to see whether pace is being maintained with those municipalities,” said Barbara King, Banff’s human resources director.
Meanwhile, mayor and council salary and benefits were disclosed in the Town of Banff’s 2016 consolidated financial statements, which were presented at the April 24 council meeting.
Mayor Karen Sorensen’s 2016 salary was $79,953, plus $3,610 in benefits and allowances. Given it is considered a full time position, the mayor does not get paid per diems.
Councillor Corrie DiManno was the lowest paid in 2016, with a base salary of $26,478. Her total compensation included $2,367 in benefits and allowances, which includes per diems.
She’s glad the committee is reviewing council’s remuneration, noting her workload has increased over this term. Along with council meetings, she’s on several committees, takes part in workshops and spends significant hours poring over agendas and documents for council and committee meetings.
“I think it’s fair compensation, but I would also note that I believe personally, with my experience as a councillor, the workload has increased over this term,” said DiManno, first elected to council in 2013.
“It’s a lot of work and you’re not doing it for the money, these are taxpayer dollars, but to make it viable for people in a town where affordability is an issue, you want to make sure it’s not a barrier for upcoming candidates.”
In 2016, council sat for a total of 104 hours in regular and special council meetings, governance and finance committee meetings, and service level review, which includes budget meetings.
These hours do not include attendance at committee meetings, including development appeal board or municipal planning commissions, for example, or preparation time for council and committee meetings.
Also not part of the total is when individuals represent council at organized events, including on weekends and evenings, attendance as an official at social events, or meetings with other levels of government and agencies.
Chip Olver, who is Banff’s longest serving council following her election in 1994, had a total compensation package of $31,321 in 2016, including the $26,478 base salary and $4,843 in benefits and allowances.
She said she believes the existing compensation is fair for the workload, particularly based on extensive work the independent remuneration committee did back in 2013.
“I think we’re in the right spot,” she said.
Olver said its also makes sense for the issue to be revisited by the public remuneration committee in an election year.
“If there are going to be changes then it’s good for people who are deciding if they will run or not to know what the remuneration would be, so this is the correct time to do it,” she said.
“It is hard for council to make a decision on its own salary because it always looks self-serving, so to have an independent committee take a look at the hours and workload, that’s always an appropriate way to go.”
In 2016, all councillors received a base salary of $26,478. With extra benefits and allowances, the total compensation for each of Stavros Karlos and Brian Standish was $30,061.
Grant Canning’s total remuneration came in at $29,025 and Ted Christensen’s was $30,601.
Town Manager Robert Earl’s salary last year was $237,996, with an additional $35,402 in benefits and allowances, for a total $273,398.
Council’s salary is adjusted on Jan. 1 of each year by the same percentage salary change granted to Town of Banff employees.
