Pay Hikes Recommended For Council

A citizens committee is recommending pay increases for Vernon council members.

Former mayor Rob Sawatzky chaired a three-person remuneration review, and the group’s 10 recommendations will be presented to council today.

Among them is increasing the mayor and councillor’s base pay by 11 percent in January to offset federal tax changes that will eliminate their current one-third exemption.

Sawatzky says in his report, the responsibilities of mayor and council are significant and complex — and compensation programs should reflect that.