Councillors voted for the position to go up to $37,000 a year, along with other benefits
If you plan to run for St. Catharines city council next term, and win, you'll receive $37,000 a year base salary.
Council voted for the increase last night, along with a $1,000 health care spending amount.
Mayor Mat Siscoe noted the job takes about 30 hours a week, which includes reading reports. "But the job isn't just reading agendas, and it's not just coming to council on Monday nights. It's also attending budget meetings if you're on that committee, it's attending hydro or tourism St. Catharines meetings, if you're on either of those boards, it's receiving phone calls and contacting residents."
Councillor Caleb Ratzlaff added young people won't run for office because they can't afford it to lose the money made in other jobs.
Councillor Joe Kushner, though, referred to comments the job takes a lot of time. "My responsibilities as a councillor years ago was much more than they are now. And the report indicates, as do some councillors, that our task is 24/7. I certainly don't share that, and it's not because I'm lazy."
He added councillors are not employees, but representatives of the community.
A couple of councillors added increasing the pay hopefully leads to a wider variety of people running.
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