Prince George, B.C. – Trustees in School District 57 will be debating a pay hike at its monthly board meeting tonight.

This in light of a recommendation by the Management and Finance Committee not to go forward with an increase this year. 

“There are a number of things to consider here,” says committee member Trish Bella. “One being we are still fighting to address the fact our exempt staff haven’t had a raise since 2009. They’re still under a government freeze.”

She says another reason is that the district is considering charging fees for bussing.

“And I myself don’t support the fee and secondly I can’t support the consideration of raising trustee remuneration if we’re turning around to say to parents you’re going to be charged a fee to get your child to school.”

It’s the board’s policy to debate a pay increase each year – their last raise came in December, 2014.

As for how much trustees make, the chair (Tony Cable) receives $18,000 a year, the vice-chair (Tim Bennett) $16,500 and the rest of the trustees $15,000.

If trustees vote to raise their pay, Bella says it would amount to around $270 a year.