Photo: Contributed

Mayor John Vassilaki and Coun. Judy Sentes

A task force of five Penticton residents has recommended mayor and council get a raise.

The committee’s recommendations will go before council Tuesday, calling for a Mayor John Vassilaki to receive a five per cent ($275 a month) raise and council an eight per cent ($148 a month) increase.

Those increases are on top of a separate increase the task force has recommended to offset changes in the federal tax code that up until 2019 saw one-third of elected official’s income tax free. The exemption is no longer in place and the committee said Penticton should follow the lead of cities like Kelowna and Salmon Arm, which adjusted pay to offset the changes.

“This is not a raise, but an adjustment to keep take-home wages approximately the same,” a report to council states.

Mayor and council per diems, which were last reviewed in 2002, are also recommended to get a bump to a maximum of $101 when the councillor is in the Lower Mainland and less elsewhere in B.C.

In all, the recommendations would cost taxpayers an extra $35,849 this year if adopted.

Penticton's mayor is currently paid $65,000 a year while councillors make $22,000. It is also being recommended salaries are tied to inflation moving forward. 

Committee members were Robert Heywood, Helen Sparkes, Gary Dean, Doug Leahy and Wayne Llewellyn.

The matter will be discussed by council Tuesday afternoon.