Council pay and expenses revealed

VERNON – Three out of seven Vernon councillors spent 88 per cent of the money given to council for expenses last year.

According to a financial statement for 2013, council was reimbursed for a total of $13,356 in expenses — such as mileage and accommodation — related to the job.

The three highest reimbursements were for Mayor Rob Sawatzky (with expenses of $3, 315), Juliette Cunningham ($3,223) and Catherine Lord ($5,244) who together took home 88 per cent of the total expenses.

Two councillors, Patrick Nicol and Bob Spiers, claimed no expenses.

“Councillors are basically given one third of our salaries non taxable and that’s supposed to pay for any local expenses,” Spiers says. “Since I do not attend any of the UBCMs and stuff like that I don’t have any expenses.”

Mary Jo O’Keefe was paid $889 in expenses, and Brian Quiring $687.

The highest paid member of council in 2013 was the mayor, with $63,466 in remuneration. The rest of council earned between $20,474 and $22,940.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.