South Okanagan-Similkameen regional board approves committee to look into remuneration issue

PENTICTON – Regional directors moved a step closer to sorting out their remuneration issues with the approval of a five-person committee to look into elected official compensation at yesterday’s board meeting.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has still not resolved the issue of municipal politician’s remuneration following changes to the income tax act that eliminated the one-third tax-free portion of their pay in 2018.

Chief administrative officer Bill Newell said the change reduced the amount of compensation paid to elected officials.

“Under discussion, it was determined we should have a citizen’s committee look at elected officials’ compensation,” he said at the directors' regular board meeting yesterday, Sept. 5.

Board chair Karla Kozakevich noted the five members were the only names to come forward.

Council approved the five-member committee, which includes Lionel Trudel, Lanny O.C. Smith, Bill Ross, Timothy Hodgkinson and Frank Armitage.

Penticton city council recently acted on the advice given to them by a similar citizens committee, which recommended pay increases for the mayor and council.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.