Over the last couple of days, I have been working on getting back to a number of emails I received this week. The general tone of these emails was about fiscal responsibility. It reminded me of this weeks committee meeting, and lost in the excitement in the number of public meetings which went to 10:30PM, there was a report to council that stated the remuneration and expenses of our elected officials for 2009. This report includes the salaries of the councillors, the amount of benefits they receive, expenses incurred for professional development and mileage they claimed.
Click on the image below.
Out of the local councillors it looks like Ward 3 councillor Cindy Lunau received the most remuneration lead by a large mileage allowance of over $4,300.00 (total $ 35, 635.12) and the most thrifty local councillor is Ward 1 councillor Rick Day at $ 29,216.00 for 2009.
After looking at the list you will see Mayor Krantz tops the list in mileage at just over $5,000 but in all fairness our Mayor does a lot of travelling in and around the province and realistically should be the only councillor to submit mileage for reimbursement. Remember, the local councillor position is “part time”.
There are a number of councillors whos claims for mileage is rather excessive in my opinion and its seems to be a regular trend. Lets look at 2008 for instance.
The trend continued back in 2007 and 2006 with very similar numbers. The first question that comes to mind … “Is Ward 3 REALLY that far to claim mileage?”
What do you think? Is it justified? Should our councillors be more frugal with tax payers dollars?
I look forward to hearing what you have to say. I’ll see you at the doors.
That kind of mileage for a town councillor is really excessive. As you said, I can understand the mayor does a lot of travelling for Milton and his amounts are reasonable. But these amounts year after year and its the same people each time.
Time to cut the purse strings.
Great post Mike!
What are these people thinking? Over the last 4 years theyve raised their salaries 3 times and now most of them are padding their income with mileage allowance.
In my line of work, the salespeople have a limit before they start to pay it back. Unless Councillor’s Lunau and Mowbray are on cross province treks they shouldnt be claiming that much. The Mayor in my eyes has been pretty good as I pulled up 2007 and 2006 as well and its almost the same amount each time.
Like you said, he’s the full time councillor (next to regional councillors) and this kind of expense is acceptable, but part time? Forget about it. This has to change.
Seeing how youre a candidate, whats your opinion on expenses?
Ryan & Jesse, thanks for your comments.
I’ve said many times in the past that I dont mind councillors being paid a fair salary for the work they do, or if there are expenses that are incurred in the course of doing “town business” After looking at some of these amounts, I think there needs to be tighter reign on these types of expenses like mileage.
As your councillor I will do my best to limit any expenses like this and spend money wisely. I understand that councillors do extra training to help do their job more effectively (ie professional development) but when mileage expenses are consistantly high, someone has to review it and say “NO”.
Ryan mentioned that council has raised their salaries 3 times in the last term (which amounts to roughly a 11% pay increase) and thats something that I see a concern with.
http://mikecluett.ca/2009/06/common-sense/
I have stated in the past here on this blog that all pay increases, should not be effective immediately but only after the beginning of the next term in office. Therefore you need to be re-elected in order to receive the pay increase coucil approves. if elected, I will vote against any motion that increases the pay of town council and if it passes, I will NOT acccept it.
There are examples in the past of councilors not accepting pay increases, most noteably John Challinor, former councillor for Ward 4 who for his entire term of council, never took any pay increases. His town salary was the same when he was first elected to the time he left office.
These amounts seem small in comparison to the entire budget for the Town of Milton but its the “nickels and dimes” that add up to big dollars of the course of the year.
Private sector companies have either frozen or decreased budgets during this rough economic time and we need people to take a leadership role in watching the taxpayers dollars and ensure they are being spent wisely.
I really like the idea of having councils salary frozen until the next election. They shouldn’t be allowed to vote for anything that affects them.
11% is a lot when during this time people lost their jobs, had pay cuts and made to do better with less.
This should be a question every sitting councillor should be asked…
“Will you decline any pay increase for the next four years?”
I’m glad you will not support that if you’re elected.
I’d say Cynthia Lunau has some explaining to do.
Maybe someone should ask her.
Honestly, I’m not all that surprised that Lunau and Mowbray would both have high mileage claims – they both live way the heck out near Rockwood (over 20 km each way just to Milton), they are both very active on committees and such, and they both serve an enormous rural ward.
Cindy Lunau’s does seem oddly high this year, but I would guess there was some specific trip or project that would account for it – otherwise, I doubt it would have been approved. But seriously – if you’re concerned, ask her.
Mileage to and from work? I wish I could get my mileage covered to go back and forth to work. Even if that’s the case at the lowest is over 3500 per year. That’s a lot! For work mines capped at 1500 per year…but I guess that’s because its the private sector and not on the taxpayers dime.
If that’s the case it shouldn’t be allowed.
Jennifer you sound a bit defensive of Mikes post. Can you make the same promise Mike did about not accepting pay increases during the term of council? It would be nice to hear what all the candidates think.
I doubt they get paid mileage just to get to work, although I honestly don’t know. It’s just that Cindy and Jan do have a much longer drive no matter where they’re going, even if it’s just getting to the 401 to go somewhere else.
Anyway, I’m not defending or condemning – I’m just saying that looking at raw numbers on a summary like this really doesn’t tell you anything about how our tax dollars are being spent. Sure, some councillors might be taking advantage – or they could be very active doing legitimate work that benefits the people of Milton. Similarly, those who don’t claim any expenses at all could be very thrifty, or independently wealthy – or it could just be that they don’t do anything besides keeping their seat warm between elections.
And sure, I have no problem with having my salary frozen for the term, and I will certainly support Mike if he makes such a motion on Council. Just understand that the amounts we’re talking about make it a largely symbolic gesture if it’s just one or two councillors doing it, so it’s not something I really care to campaign on. But if it’s important to the people in my ward, I’m sure they’ll let me know.
It doesn’t matter if its “largely symbolic” or not it should be done.
That’s a very common excuse from people who like to spend taxpayers dollars willy nilly. And they’re usually members of the same party you support and blog about.
I’ve never heard you so non opinionated on an issue before. Then again, were not talking about Lisa Raitt or Stephen Harper are we?
This is Mike’s blog, so I’m not going to get into this with you here. If you’d care to leave a comment on my blog or send me an email, I’d be happy discuss my opinions on this subject with you. I’m at http://www.jensmith.ca
BTW, which ward are you in?
Hey “reader” …
If you have an issue with Jennifer…take it up with her on her blog. Im sure Mike doesnt need this on his.
I know that freezing salaries for the term and cutting back on expenses are symbolic gestures but they are necessary to show taxpayers that council is looking out for them. These types of expenses should be limited. Every nickel and dime counts…in good times and in bad ones.
Ryan – Agreed. And as I said, I’m perfectly happy to do it – I’m just not keen to suddenly make an issue of it just because I’m trying to get elected. In Mike’s case, he’s been on this issue for a long time and has made it an integral part of his platform. I haven’t, so it would be a little cynical of me to suddenly jump on the bandwagon even though I agree with it.
Does that make sense?
Im glad this didnt degenerate into BS politics. If “runesmith reader” has an issue with Jennifer, then take it up with her…if theyve got the guts. Seeing how we havent heard from him, I dont think they do.
Back of topic. These are questions you or anyone else who gets elected will be facing every day. Its good to hear what others have to say. There are legitimate expenses that can be claimed without issue, but they all should be reviewed.
Im an accounting manager for my company and if I see things like this, Im talking with that individual right away. Thanks for bringing it to our attention Mike. Great Blog!