At the June 25 General Committee meeting, the majority of councillors voted in favour of a pay raise for the positions of councillor and deputy mayor, effective next term.
Staff noted that the positions are currently sitting below the 35th pay percentile target when compared to other comparator municipalities. While the position of mayor, which staff recommended be red circled and not receive further increases next term, is sitting at the 65th percentile of market comparators.
The market comparators used by staff include Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Collingwood, East Gwillimbury, Essa, Essex, Innisfil, Orillia, Oro Medonte, Springwater, and Wasaga Beach.
Where compensation for the position of Town of Huntsville Mayor sits among comparators, below:
Staff were recommending that for the 2026 to 2030 term of council, the deputy mayor and councillor positions be aligned with the 40th percentile of market comparators and receive annual cost-of-living increases. Huntsville Councillor Bob Stone put a motion on the table, which was seconded by Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock, asking councillors instead to align the two positions at the 35th percentile.
The chart below shows the base increase at the 35th and 40th percentiles.
The difference between the 35th and 40th percentile mark for the position of deputy mayor would be $628. The difference for the councillor position would be $223.
Councillor Bob Stone said that if the Town wants to continue to attract “quality citizens to run in the next election and elections going forward, we can’t continue to be offering a shrinking amount compared to other municipalities,” he said, adding “We’re not even close to what other municipalities are providing for their councillors…”
Councillor Dione Schumacher asked for a recorded vote on the matter.
Councillor Scott Morrison said he could agree to move the deputy mayor position to the 40th percentile. He also reasoned that while voting for an increase to one’s own position, especially if one plans to run in the next election, could be perceived as a conflict, one could also argue that increasing pay to attract more candidates means more competition.
Councillor Cory Clarke said that while he understands where Councillor Stone is coming from with comments about attracting good candidates, based on the last election, there were no issues with attracting quality candidates. “I don’t think that really remuneration has anything to do with, or factors into, running good quality candidates in Huntsville.”
Clarke also said that, given council’s last couple of budgets (2024 at 10.68%, 2025 at 4.84% and 2026 expected at 4.87%), he did not think the timing was right for an increase. He also noted that there are many people in the community who are not currently seeing wage increases.
Deputy Mayor Dan Armour put forward a motion asking that the position of deputy mayor be paid at the 40th percentile. He said the position requires a lot of work, and it’s nice to be compensated appropriately for your time and effort. “Even though it’s not a lot of money, you want to make your town a great town, and if it attracts one person who may be considering to run this time because of this little bit of money, I think that’s great. I think competition is great…”
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock called it a difficult decision. “At the very least, I would ask council to consider looking at the deputy mayor’s salary because, sitting in this chair, we think that having a deputy mayor is rather symbolic, it’s not symbolic at all. The number of times the deputy mayor goes to events and meetings and things like that that represent not just the mayor but the council… I think that the role is increasing, not decreasing, and I think there should be some recognition,” said Alcock.
Huntsville CAO Denise Corry said the reason staff were recommending the 40th percentile is to decrease the spread. “… we’re the biggest community in the District of Muskoka and certainly not the highest paid positions for council or deputy mayor.”
Councillor Helena Renwick agreed and also noted that it is difficult to vote for an increase to your position, even though it would not apply until the next term.
Ultimately, when put to a vote, the majority of committee members agreed to increase the pay for the position of deputy mayor and bring it in line with the 40th percentile of comparators. Councillors Clarke and Schumacher voted against the increase.
According to the staff report, the increase represents an additional $5,814 (23.4%) in pay for the deputy mayor position, bringing the total remuneration to $34,603, plus benefits.
As for the position of councillor, a majority of the committee voted in favour of increasing councillor pay to the 35th percentile. The increase represents an additional $2,165 (11.2%), bringing the total compensation to $28,247, plus benefits for Huntsville Councillors. Councillors Clarke, Schumacher, and Morrison voted against the increase.
District councillors who sit at the upper-tier municipality are also paid by the District of Muskoka. District councillors recently approved more than a 45 per cent raise for District councillors for next term. All Huntsville District councillors, including the mayor, voted against it. “We have to remember whose money is supporting these pay increases,” said Morrison.
The increases for the positions of Huntsville deputy mayor and councillor will take effect at the start of next term.
All recommendations from Huntsville’s General Committee must be ratified by council.
You can find more about this HERE.
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Firstly , Thank You Doppler for the reporting on the Town general committee meeting of June 24 th. If it were not for your coverage many eligible voters would not have known of the happenings that took place. Thank You!
Thank You Mr .Paul Whillans for your comments, much of what you commented on are bang on the mark. My hope that many eligible voters will read your comments and add it to their knowledge when the next municipal election comes around.
Thank You to One of the two councillors representing Stisted, Stephenson & Port Sydney , Councillor Dione Schumacher. Thank You for asking for a recorded vote on the proposed remuneration increases starting with the next term of council.
Hopefully when this meeting minutes gets to ratification at the council You or another councillor will request also a recorded vote on the two motions regarding Councillor and Deputy Mayor’s remuneration.
The report from Town Staff regarding
“ Percential “ jargon is bordering on the side of ridiculousness. Much of what has been already been commented on by Paul Whillans, who has rightfully so pointed out the shortfalls.
Our beautiful Muskoka and Parry Sound districts are very different and unique from other jurisdictions in Ontario . Muskoka is comprised of three towns & three amalgamated townships. Salary/Remuneration comparisons in my opinion should be taken from the immediate area, not from jurisdictions Much , much different from our beautiful Muskoka.
Some of us taxpayers are beginning to wonder about the performance of some of Town staff starting at the top. It seems that they need help and direction to serve us better. In my opinion help and direction doesn’t seem to be forthcoming from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Some councillors. Here we are debating the salaries of the very same Mayor and Deputy Mayor offices.
As quoted by Mr Paul Whillans, “ But this certainly doesn’t pass the smell test “
I would have to agree with Mr. Whillans.
John R. Earl, Huntsville
This is a curious analysis, in my opinion. I am quite sure the average reader would begrudgingly accept the presentation.
However an actual look at the “comparators” suggest to me that this group is quite disparate in matters that are important such as:
a) Orillia is a single tier municipality (the only one) and definitively shouldn’t be on the list. Nonetheless;
b) If I look at the number of Council members per municipal population, Huntsville currently has 1 council member per every 2610 citizens. Each of the Muskoka municipalities is equally high (e.g. Gravenhurst being 1 Council member for 2400 citizens). But the average of the remaining 9 “comparators” is one council member for 4425 citizens (with East Gwillimbury with one council member for 7000 citizens). It seems to me that with council representation in Huntsville being 70% more involved that the average of the non Muskoka “comparators”, I question whether we are being over governed at a cost and with little benefits.
c)Lastly I look at affordability. According to the last census, the median household income for Huntsville was $83,000 ( at the 24 percentile). I note that comparing this income to the comparators, Huntsville has the 3rd lowest median household income of the 12.. Indeed, the top 50% of the group have median household incomes of over $100,000 which of course is 18 to 40% higher than Huntsville.
I, of course, ask myself what is this staff report talking about.In terms of how much the town can afford, clearly Huntsville is at the 24 percentile of affordability. Add to that Huntsville has more Councillors per capita than that its comparators.
I note that none of this appears in the staff’s specious report (as reported here). And truly shouldn’t the town affordability of the town’s seemingly bloated governance at least be discussed.
All of which brings me to my second concern. While I realize that this happens all across the province, but is it not a conflict of interest for a group (“staff”) to recommend salary increases to another group who ultimately decides their salary increases. I don’t precisely how this needs to change. But it certainly doesn’t pass the smell test