Mayor Sue McKortoff (centre front) and councillors Mike Campol (left front), Carol Youngberg (right front), C.J. Rhodes (second from left, rear) and Jim King (right, rear) are receiving pay raises. Also pictured in this photo are water councillors Sarabjit Rai (left rear) and Claude Moreira (rear, third from left). (Photo supplied.)
Stating there hasn’t been an increase in remuneration in five years, Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff and members of town council voted unanimously in favour of giving themselves a pay raise at Monday’s regular meeting of council.
The largest increase of 15 per cent will go to McKortoff, whose annual mayor’s salary will increase to just over $27,100.
Councillors C.J. Rhodes, Mike Campol, Carol Youngberg and Jim King will receive a five per cent increase, bumping their annual salary to $16,543.
McKortoff said “it has been several years” since there has been any increase in wages for mayor and council and senior administration looked at remuneration paid in eight or nine other small towns in B.C. and this pay increase will bring the wages paid in Osoyoos more in line with what’s paid elsewhere.
Campol said the wage increases are justified, particularly for McKortoff who he said is paid “what seems like a part-time salary” for working exceptionally long hours.
“This increase is more than justified,” he said.
Rhodes has been on council since 2008. Campol, Youngberg and King were elected or the first time in 2014.
Councillors and the mayor are also paid per diems for out of town meetings.
The new wage increases will take effect in January 2017.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
