Stratford town council members' compensation to go up

The town council in Stratford, P.E.I., approved an increase to its compensation rate Wednesday, voting in favour of a hike that will take effect over the next two years.

Under the new rates, MayorDavid Dunphywill receive $2.62 per resident by 2018 while Deputy Mayor Randy Cooper will receive$1.50 per resident and councillors will receive $1.31 per resident.

That is up from $1.94 per resident for the mayor currently, $1.13 per resident for the deputy mayor and $0.98 per resident for councillors.

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The compensation increase was recommended by resolveHR, anindependent consultant hired by the town.

Based on the population of 2016, the report estimated the mayor's salary at $12,133 last year, the deputy mayor's salary at $7,280 and councilors salaries at $6,309.

Assuming the population stays the same buttaking into account the rate per resident increasethose 2016 pay levelswould essentially double in 2018, according to the report, with the mayor's salary estimated at more than $25,000, the deputy mayor's salary at more than $14,000 and coucillors making more than $12,500.

'A modest increase'

"It's a modest increase. There'scertainlyno $40,000 or $50,000 salaries being handed out for councillors in Stratford," said Cooper.

The consultantconducted a council compensation review, comparing Stratford to other municipalities ofsimilar sizes across the Island and the rest of the Maritimes.

Independent review

According to the review, Stratford "lags well behind all other comparator towns throughout Maritime Canada in terms of compensation for elected officials."

Cooper said the increase will help keep Stratford competitive.

The resolveHR review suggestslow levels of compensation can discourage qualified citizens from seeking public office.

The new compensation rates are retroactive toJan. 1, 2017.

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