Vernon city staff salaries total $32M, council’s expenses reach $26K

May 29, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Vernon city council’s expenses last year were less than a tenth of their pay, which made up just a fraction of the pay for all city staff.

The City of Vernon released its Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) report ahead of the regular council meeting Monday, May 27.

The report showed council’s remuneration was $363,713, while the expenses totalled $26,072.

Mayor Victor Cumming’s remuneration in 2023 was $112,619, while he had $6,110 in expenses.

Councillors Teresa Durning, Kelly Fehr and Kari Gares each took home $41,669 in pay, and they had varied expenses last year. Fehr’s expenses totalled $6,092, the second highest of any local leader after the mayor, while Durning’s were $4,448 and Gares had $2,445 in expenses.

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Councillor Brian Guy’s remuneration was the highest of any councillor at $42,213, and he filed for $5,897 in expenses.

Councillors Akbal Mund and Brian Quiring were paid $41,935 each, and while Quiring expensed $1,065, Mund’s expenses only totalled $15.

It was noted that MQN Interior Ltd., Quiring’s architecture firm, was awarded $5,797 for its work designing the Community Service’s building office.

The SOFI statements showed that City of Vernon staff earned a combined $32,404,525 in 2023.

The highest paid members of staff include CAO Patti Bridal ($219,457), former CAO Will Pearce ($198,483), Vernon Fire Rescue Chief David Lind ($194,545), and Finance Director Deb Law ($180,820).

Council accepted the SOFI report for information at Monday’s meeting.

by Liam Verster

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