Esquimalt council voted in favour of wage increases for the incoming mayor and councillors.
Esquimalt conducts a report every four years to ensure their wages remain comparable with other municipalities of similar population and similar council size, according to mayor Barb Desjardins. The report reviewed compensation for 10 other municipalities in B.C. The change will bring an additional $9,330 for the mayor and $1,192 for councillors annually.
“We do have a policy that says council will on the fourth year, or last year of their term, review remuneration and any decisions would be put in place for the next council,” Desjardins said. “We do that so that we are understanding compensation for elected officials and that we are ensuring that we are comparable.”
Desjardins said in at a Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities meeting it was discussed that wages may be a barrier to entry due to the large time constraints for some younger councillors.
“One of the things that we all heard loud and clear was the challenge for young people with regard to the extra expenses that running for council might incur and the compensation not meeting the needs of that,” Desjardins said. “When I speak to extras, you could have child care to deal with; certainly there is our time that you require, that would mean you would be away from your family a little bit.”