Staff report suggests task force look at Penticton council remuneration

PENTICTON – Penticton city council will look at a staff recommendation to establish a task force on council remuneration, including a benefit package.

Staff is putting forward a recommendation to council at Tuesday’s regular council meeting, Dec. 18, to form an external compensation advisory task force to investigate, review, develop and provide a report and recommendations addressing a compensation review for council, extended health and dental benefits, and the loss of their one-third tax free exemption.

Several other municipal councils have already dealt with the exemption, which eliminates the tax free portion of municipal politicians’ remunerations, starting in 2019.

The issue of extended health and dental benefits was a contentious topic for the last council, who decided on a 50-50 split on the cost of the benefits between the city and councillors.

The report notes city council remuneration hasn’t been reviewed for more than 10 years.

The City says the task force would be made up of "four independent and qualified individuals who have experience in business leadership, remuneration development or other similar experience and skills.”

The report provided no estimate of the costs involved in creating the task force. Any further financial implications with regard to council remuneration would, of course, depend on recommendations made by the task force.

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