I’m going to guess you’d be interested to know how much money your Vancouver city council collected in 2015 for duties as members of Metro Vancouver’s board of directors.
Guess who earned the most?
If you know the hierarchy of the board of directors, you would know that Vision Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie is vice-chairperson. That position comes with a salary of $35,929, according to Metro Vancouver’s recently released statement of financial information.
Add that to Louie’s council salary of $70,909 and his $4,254 transportation allowance and you get a happy member of the 100K-plus per year club.
That, again, was his 2015 income.
This year’s a different, more lucrative story for Louie and his council colleagues. I told that story a few months ago and had Louie give me an update in an email on what he expects to earn this year as a councillor. He never did give me a total. The figures in parentheses are my additions.
“For 2016, the [council] amount will be abnormally large when compared to 2015, as it will include the council-approved increase to the base pay [$8,968], a catch-up payment for the 2015 base pay increase [$8,968], the 2015 acting-mayor pay – along with the 2016 acting-mayor pay – and lastly, the 2015 and 2016 amounts for medical benefits.”
As I reported in March, Louie – as acting mayor – began to receive a monthly “supplement” May 1 equivalent to eight per cent of the mayor’s monthly salary. That’s about another $1,000 per month. Also, as acting mayor, Louie will receive a one-time payment equivalent to eight per cent of the mayor’s salary, payable between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016. I’m guessing that’s roughly, $12,800.
Add it all up and my math skills tell me there’s no chance this year that Louie will lose his membership in the 100K-per-year club. (Note to Louie: Please contact me councillor if my math sucks and give me a total for 2016).
Let’s get back to what the rest of council collected from Metro Van in 2015. Runner-up to Louie was Vision Coun. Heather Deal, who as chairperson of the regional parks committee, pulled in $24,053 on top of her $70,909 council income and $4,254 transportation allowance.
Vision Coun. Andrea Reimer was chairperson of Metro Van’s climate action committee and earned $19,027. Reimer’s council income was $105,143, about $35,000 of which was related to her duties as deputy mayor; the regular transit rider and occasional cab user didn’t take a transportation allowance.
“I don’t have a car so it would be quite impossible to spend that much on transportation every year,” Reimer said in an email. “Generally, I take the bus or walk. And since I would need a one zone bus pass regardless of whether I was on council, I buy that with my own money. If I have to go to another zone, then I charge that to the city as it’s more than I would otherwise be spending.”
Added Reimer: “On taxis, I take them when it’s impossible for me to make a transit connection between two city engagements, or when a city engagement went very late at night and I was not dressed for a long walk.”
The rest of council and what they earned from Metro Van in 2015:
· Tim Stevenson ($14,001)
· Mayor Gregor Robertson ($4,667)
· Kerry Jang ($4,308)
· Geoff Meggs ($12,565)
· Melissa De Genova ($1,432)
· Adriane Carr ($2,513)
· Elizabeth Ball ($1,795)
· George Affleck ($1,077)
Yes, I know the money politicians make can drive taxpayers wild. But keep in mind that a councillor in Winnipeg earns $89,346 per year and an Ottawa councillor brings in $93,999.
A Courier reporter?
Never mind.
mhowell@vancourier.com
@Howellings
