The Municipal Act requires Huntsville’s treasurer to report annually on the remuneration and expenditures paid to each member of council.
Total council remuneration for 2020 was $248,104, less than the $270,372 budgeted for the year.
Note that Huntsville Council agreed to take a ten per cent wage cut starting on May 1, 2020 and forgo remuneration during special electronic meetings.
Included in the 2020 budget was $10,828 for additional meetings or attendance at conferences or meetings—the total amount paid for 2020 was $1,725 and is included in the overall total.
Total budget for councillor discretionary spending in 2020 was $20,000 and total spending amounted to $8,495, including $5,000 in donations in support of community organizations. The remaining expenses of $3,495 in council and corporate expenses are noted below by councillor.
Here’s what council members made last year, with 2019 total remuneration for comparison.
Mayor Karin Terziano*
2020 remuneration: $49,751 plus a $525 per diem and $3,436 in benefits = $53,712 (2019, as deputy mayor: $37,912)
2020 expenses: $2,802.68
Deputy Mayor Nancy Alcock*
2020 remuneration: $24,567 plus a $100 per diem and $1,592 in benefits = $26,260 (2019: $25,817)
2020 expenses: $610.56
Councillor Dan Armour
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $150 per diem and $1,463 in benefits = $24,331 (2019: $25,866)
2020 expenses: none
Councillor Jason FitzGerald
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $150 per diem and $1,463 in benefits = $24,331 (2019: $25,938)
2020 expenses: none
Councillor Dione Schumacher
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $150 per diem and $1,463 = $24,331 (2019: $27,619)
2020 expenses: none
Councillor Bob Stone
2020 remuneration: $21,557 plus a $250 per diem and $1,406 in benefits = $23,013 (2019: n/a)
2020 expenses: $81.92
Councillor Brian Thompson*
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $100 per diem and $445 in benefits = $23,263 (2019: $26,784)
2020 expenses: none
Councillor Jonathan Wiebe
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $150 per diem and $1,463 in benefits = $24,331 (2019: $25,884)
2020 expenses: none
Councillor Tim Withey*
2020 remuneration: $22,718 plus a $150 per diem and $1,463 in benefits = $24,331 (2019: $26,432)
2020 expenses: none
Benefits include employer health tax and Canada pension plan amounts paid by the Town.
*Four members of Huntsville Council are also District councillors and receive additional remuneration for those roles. In 2018, District Council approved the following rate schedule for its councillors in the 2018-2022 term:
-increase of $1,000 effective December 1, 2018 to $17,750 per year;
-increase of $1,000 effective December 1, 2019 to $18,750 per year;
-increase of $1,000 effective December 1, 2020 to $19,750 per year; and
-increase of $1,000 effective December 1, 2021 to $20,750 per year.
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Kim Burnside says
is the per diem amount when they are attending council business in other jurisdictions?
Over $500 per diem for the Mayor , what can she spend it on and who polices her spending of this ?
Does she just get it every day ?
More info needed
Allen Markle says
Bit of a puzzler when you read our councils pay scale. People who were elected, take lots of flack and agreed to a 10% salary cut for part of the year. Right after you read the salaries of town employees that are not elected, are somewhat insulated by council and certainly never offered any cut in pay, but make in excess of a hundred grand a year.
Doesn’t mean I’m a fan of council. Just that I notice quite a difference.
Mike stevens says
I was in business on Main Street for over 40 years, hired a lot of fine people,but never at these bargain basement prices.Look at the talent we have in council led by a mayor who is doing a great job.we should consider ourselves fortunate and give them all a pat on the back!
Mike Stevens
Phil Beacock says
Good for them! It is a thankless job! I don’t want their job and admire them for doing what they are doing! I have a thought here maybe we should make it law that all T4 and income tax filed for the year be available to the general public NO matter where you work or what you do! This to me is just digging up dirt on people that are working and contributing to society! Have a safe day to all first responders and the people out there making it work!