Village of Burns Lake staff have recently presented to council the village’s statement of financial information report, which lists remuneration of staff and council in 2015.
Municipalities are required by law to release individual wages for employees that earn over $75,000.
Village staff who earned over $75,000 in 2015 include director of finance Bernice Crossman, who earned $75,532 and had expenses of $8247; utility man level II Chris Harms, who earned $81,422; director of public works Richard Martin, who earned $80,906 and had expenses of $2948; director of protective services Jim McBride, who earned $87,062 and had expenses of $3926; and chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing, who earned $115,460 and had expenses of $4387.
The consolidated total for the 42 employees whose remunerations were $75,000 or less was $1,030,424.
According to the village, there has not been an increase to the union employees’ wages.
Burns Lake Mayor Luke Strimbold earned $17,500 in 2015 and had expenses of $8125.
Burns Lake councillors earned $8250 in 2015. Councillor Chris Beach had expenses totalling $4309; councillor Kelly Holliday’s expenses were $2138; councillor John Illes had expenses of $5964; and councillor Susan Schienbein’s expenses totalled $2614.
Some of the Burns Lake staff wages have significantly increased over the past 10 years.
The chief administrative officer for Burns Lake received $72,493 in 2006; in 2009, the same position received $97,375; and in 2015, $115,460 was paid to that position.
In 2006, the village’s director of protective services was receiving $60,637; in 2009, the same position was paid $72,420; and in 2015, $87,062 was paid to that position.
The wage rise over the years has been justified as bringing the Burns Lake staff in line with other B.C. communities of a similar size and population.
Lakes District News asked the District of Houston, which is a municipality of a similar size and population, for their financial statements.
Houston’s chief administrative officer earned $110,871 in 2015 and had expenses totalling $20,774; Houston’s director of finance earned $75,369 and had expenses totalling $4728; Houston’s senior water and wastewater system operator earned $79,479; and Houston’s mechanic earned $75,385.
The consolidated total of other employees with remuneration and expenses of $75,000 or less in Houston totalled $1,384,353.
Lakes District News also asked the District of Houston for their council’s remuneration in 2015.
Houston mayor earned $15,783 and had expenses of $7489. Houston councillors earned $7892 and the highest expenses listed by a councillor was $6324.