The average salary for a mayor in the states is $62,000 a year!

After us you come first.
Cheers

Thanks, So every tax payer in this city is paying $3.00 to Dan Rogers.

What has he done in the last year. Nope, the police station is not started, the Performing Arts has not started. The city has bought some old buildings so that they can spend money tearing it down.

So how come the city of Quesnel, manage to survive by not raising the taxes last year. Now our city needs to raise our taxes again. Something is not right. The city needs to rethink things.

Stop spending money on frivulous projects. Air quality police, Sorry man, call me a red neck, but that has been a waste of my $2.00. What the heck has this person done in the last three months.

ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME??? really??

Joe/Jill Q. Public are losing their jobs and homes with todays economy and our city coucil thinks they are due a raise?? really?? all I have to ask is "what have you done for us lately?" to be worthy of that raise??!!

as before mentioned lots of promises of things to happen but nothing happening but hey lets give ourselves a raise!!

How about donating your raises back into the City budget, for road repair, snow removal, and the many many other things that are needed in PG other than Councils wallets getting fatter!!!

"Manager of Financial Services Kathleen Soltis says Prince George Mayor and Council are on "the low side" when their remuneration is compared to Mayors and Councillors in other similar communities in B.C." WHO CARES, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, is this a case of "keeping up with the Jones'???

whew, ok breath, in through the nose, hold and out through the mouth!! ok ok the dots are fading!! LOL sorry about the rant!!! BUT COME ON REALLY IS NOW THE TIME FOR COUNCIL TO BE GIVING THEMSELVES A RAISE??

Anastasia, thanks, I thought I was the only person concerned about this self edifying raise.

This is so typical of politicians on any level!
Look after yourself first!

He spoke, you are complaining about the raise and at the same time you want the performing arts centre built in this economy, interesting.

Cant say how the Councillors measure up to other Municipalities, however you can rest assured that the Mayor of Prince George is paid a lot more than other Mayors in similiar Citys in Prince George.

In 2005 this was the population and Mayors salaries.

Kelowna Pop. 96,288 Mayors salary $79,150.00

Nanaimo Population 73,000 Mayors salary $58,127.00

Kamloops Pop. 77,281 Mayors salary $66,348.00

Pr George Pop. 72,406 Mayors salary $84,385.00.

I doubt that there have been significant increases to those other cities since 2005, and event if there were, Prince George with a smaller population , is still paying their Mayor more money.

Perhpas Kathleen Soltis could back up her statements with some actual figures.

I know this is the kind of article people love to get outraged about, but in terms of actual dollars, the 2.7% is chicken feed.

Let's focus on the bigger items, like getting the roads fixed and the other stuff we all like to whine about on here.

Now... back to your regularly scheduled ranting.

MrPG- regardless of the amount of the raise, what has been stated on here is that now is not the time for council to be giving themselves a raise, and as I stated why not put that raise back into the city budget for things like road repair and snow removal etc. etc. etc. ............

so when City decides to raise property taxes or utilities 2.7% I sure hope I don't see you on here complaining cause remember it is "only chicken feed"

Hm, I thought this site was called 'Opinion250'. In any case, 2.7% is pretty a pretty standard cost of living type of increase which is widely seen in the public and private sectors. I'm not saying everyone is making 2.7% more this year, but many are.

What a joke. Council sits on its collective butts and receives a raise for it. In the meantime they go into budget talks saying we need to increase taxes in order to keep the city running. Typical of our city lets increase the cost of doing business by hiring too many people at high rates of pay to stand around and do nothing. That's okay though because the high salaried city employees are telling them it is necessary and at the end of the day taxpayers are footing the bill anyways. Our council is full useless people that can not get anything accomplished other than spending money on useless budget items like there pay.

how about this....when the city makes money then the council gets a raise!!! Between the city and Regional district they have raised the taxes three straight years in a row. Now this. Are we ready to fight??? Or are you all going to bend over and not make a squeek as they cram it up???

2.7% of 70,000 + is not chicken feed!!!

In terms of the City's budget it is, but don't let me get in the way of you getting all worked up about it.

how about that new community health center that used to be chances?
The regional health board/district/whatever, are spending over a million dollars to renovate.
I can see putting in labs, and exam rooms, and all the other needed resources in that type of health care facility. What caught my attention is the entire wall being torn down to install an exterior glass wall. WTF!

The easiest way to save money is to not spend money.

Do they on the taxpayers dime need an exterior glass wall? Really? This is an example of the frivolous waste perpetrated on the taxpayers. This is the kind of thing that needs to be stopped, NOW!

Stepping over dollars to pick up dimes. Stop bleeding out on a fancy insulation deficient six or seven digit pretty bauble and 2.7% counselor raise becomes almost unworthy of comment.

Well said Loki!!!

The community health centere is a private venture. If they want people to want to use their facility - it has to look nice.


The majority of it is private money, so chill Loki.

If people wnat to invest in their business - they can.

City Hall should have a KYJelly dispenser in place of the Hand Sanitizer dispenser

You are missing the point. They spend millions then claim to be implementing cost cutting measures. I am suggesting that they who spend OUR money would do well to STOP (Sit, Think, Observe, Plan) spending.

No new projects till such time as: attainable budgets are in order and on target, the basic infrastructure of roads, water, sewer, and power is stable and not in a state of crisis, and the homeless and destitute are sheltered. Add in world peace and we would have heaven on earth.

Since when was health care privatized in Canada? To my knowledge, it is publicly funded.

Loki,
Streetwise is right, the Chances building renovation is a private venture. Commonwealth Health (a division of Commonwealth Financial)owns the building and is renovating it with a view to renting space to physicians. This is in no way funded by tax dollars (other than a loan through NDI Trust to get the renos done).
While the Doctors who rent space in that facility are paid through the Medical Health services plan for the patients they see, how they pay their "rent" is their own responsibility.

Editor

Thank you for filling the gap in my awareness.

I was wrong on the account of the health center. I hope the point is still valid.

Very valid points indeed Loki. There is some truth to your position in that the money that NDI Trust is loaning for the renovations, is taxpayers money that came from the sale of BC Rail. So one would need to know what rate of interest they are paying for this money compared to borrowing it from the open market. The difference could be construed as taxpayers money, in that it is a direct savings for the borrowers. NDI loaned $11 Million to the Airport Authority with a rate of interest pegged to inflation, with very liberal terms for repayment and re-negotiation.

Our Mayor is paid much higher than most Mayors in similiar cities, funny no one seems to give a hoot about this, or the fact that Soltis would have you beleive otherwise.

I suspect that other Cities are using our Mayors salary as an excuse for getting themselves a raise.

Notwithstanding what Mayors are paid in other cities, the Mayor's salary has to compete with salaries in the private sector. Why would anyone want to become Mayor with all the high profile and public scrutiny when one could find a job in the private sector for a similar wage?

Certainly, someone of Dan Roger's qualifications could find a job in the media or public relations for a similar amount of money. He might have to do that next election anyway. ;)

How much of this renumeration is income tax exempt? Something the working person does not get.
Ben, I think you should do an editorial on this since most people are not aware of this added perk for all politicians at all levels.

As I see it, the issue isn't the money (because it is immaterial in the overall scheme of the budget), it is the message being sent.

That said, I have a hard time understanding how one would think that the Mayor should make less than a full time blue collar worker who works a pile of OT. Let's get realistic here folks. I'll bet 95% of the regular posters on this board wouldn't do that job for 90K given the hours of work and the demands on your personal life. You get what you pay for. If you want bargain basement wages, you are almost guaranteed to get bargain basement people.

One third of the Mayors and Councillors salaries are tax exempt.

There are not too many jobs in the Private Sector that would pay you $93,000.00 with one third tax exempt, plus a vehicle, plus expenses. I certainly would love to know where they are.

In certain Governments jobs, like Northern Health, Education, other Government positions you might get something similiar. Same thing applies to some forest industry jobs, pulp and paper etc; however these are all high end jobs, that require some special education, and expertise.


Im sure the City Manager, and some other Managers positions, like planners, and engineering etc; get paid more than the Mayor. The Mayors position is political, and as such can be taken by anyone who gets the vote,. It matters little whether or not he has a lot of expertise in any areas. Usually they come from various industries, etc; construction, commercial enterprises, liberians, etc;

Bottom line. If you are comparing apples to apples then our Mayor of overpaid in regards to other Mayors in other Cities of similiar size.

The late Harold Moffat once said that the Mayors position didnt amount to much, and could be handled with little difficuly on a part time basis. Considering he was once the Mayor himself, maybe he knew what he was talking about.

No pay increases until their is significant increase to city revenue and the best way to do that is start attracting business and the way to do that is remove most of City managment and get people in that are business friendly.

I am sure these ninnies on city council will pass legislation giving the next round of councilors a pay raise too. Hopefully they think they will be re-elected mainly due to name recognition. Nice game and nice work if you can get it.

Soltis says: "average annual increase in the public administration industry..."

1. Where did she get this info?
2. The public sector is now generally paid more, including benefits than the private sector. This is noblesse oblige on the part of the bureaucracy, which is self-perpetuating. One manager per two staff members, a department of ten people has 5 managers at a hefty salary yet no one has authority to make decisions on their own accord...the grind continues wasting all of our time and costing us money - how sustainable would that be in the real world?
3. The "public adminstration INDUSTRY"???
Since when is this an INDUSTRY...no risk taken, no progressive thinking in order to compete, no wealth creation, no 60 plus hour weeks running a business etc. It is not an INDUSTRY, it is an entity that sucks all initiative, creates unnecessary red tape, is process and not result driven etc...ALL on the public purse. They should all be taking 15% percent cuts!

"The late Harold Moffat once said that the Mayors position didnt amount to much, and could be handled with little difficuly on a part time basis"

Are you suggesting that what the Mayor of PG had to contend with in the 1970's is the same as what they would have to contend with a full 40 years later?

Personally, I tend to look at the wages more on the basis of are we getting good value for the money. If we pay the Mayor 90K and everyone else 25K and we have a proactive council that accomplishes great things, I think it's money well spent. On the flipside, of course, if we don't even know what the heck they are doing, then we have a serious problem. The jury is still out on this particular council, but I tend to think we're gravitating more towards the latter than the former at this point in time. They need to start making some things happen to justify the investment in their salaries IMHO.

"No 60 plus hour weeks running a business etc"

I'd lay money that the mayor of a city like PG puts in AT LEAST 60 hours a week, probably significantly more . . .

NMG. During the Mid Sixties and Seventies, Prince George was experiencing a huge boom the like of which has never been seen since. That is a boom in Industry, Schools, Population, etc; etc; etc;

All three Pulp Mills were built in the mid sixties, and the biggest expansion in housing took place in the sixties and seventies. This of course called for huge expenditures in roads, housing, sewer, water, garbage, etc; etc; In addition the Hart Hiway, VLA, South Fort George, Pineview, pulp mills etc; were incorporated into the City. We had two major airlines flying in and out of Prince George. Air Canada, and CP Air. In those days we actually handled air cargo into Prince George. We dont anymore.

I could go on, however suffice to say that the job to-day is a cake walk compared to what it used to be. The present Mayor has it pretty good. I doubt if he comes anywhere near putting in 60 hours per week. He would be lucky to get in 40.

What do you think his job is???? What do you think he does????

Dont forget that all the actual work is done by the City Manager, City Clerk, Planning Department, Engineering Dept, etc etc; etc;. At the end of the day this doesnt leave a hell of a lot left for the Mayor. As I said before his is a political position.

Anyway I would love to hear from you as to what you think his job actually is. Aside from chairing Council meetings, with an agenda made up by the City Managers office.

Give it your best shot.

From my understanding, councillors work full time. Their numbers are published for us to call at all hours of the day or night. We know where they work and live, so you KNOW that some people drop by just to share a thought or two. The constant bombardment of email's - Brian Skakun talks about hunderds of emails each week.

Then there's all of the meetings. That's a lot of time off from their jobs. Oh, wait, that's either holliday time they are using or days off without pay! I'm sure that everyone who posts here would be willing to do that as well, since they love their community so much!

Then there's the fact that we all know who they are. That we spot them in the restraunts and stop by for a quick word. Or in the grocery store - wait isn't that the mayor over there? I'm sure he won't mind, he's only with his wife and kids.

We pay them about the same amount as someone who works at McDonalds. I think it's rediculous to think we get the 'best people possible' with those demands and that wage. If we want the 'best and the brightest' we should be giving them wayyyy more then a 2.7% increase.

I wonder if anyone who posts here would consider running - even if the wage was DOUBLED?

From my understanding, councillors work full time. Their numbers are published for us to call at all hours of the day or night. We know where they work and live, so you KNOW that some people drop by just to share a thought or two. The constant bombardment of email's - Brian Skakun talks about hunderds of emails each week.

Then there's all of the meetings. That's a lot of time off from their jobs. Oh, wait, that's either holliday time they are using or days off without pay! I'm sure that everyone who posts here would be willing to do that as well, since they love their community so much!

Then there's the fact that we all know who they are. That we spot them in the restraunts and stop by for a quick word. Or in the grocery store - wait isn't that the mayor over there? I'm sure he won't mind, he's only with his wife and kids.

We pay them about the same amount as someone who works at McDonalds. I think it's rediculous to think we get the 'best people possible' with those demands and that wage. If we want the 'best and the brightest' we should be giving them wayyyy more then a 2.7% increase.

I wonder if anyone who posts here would consider running - even if the wage was DOUBLED?

I don't see any issue with council & mayor getting a pay rise. They got less than CUPE staff and presumably less than exempt.

This 2.7% equates to less than $8000 in total.

Middleground. No Councillors work full time.

As far as I know they all have other jobs. ie; Stolz runs a business, Skakun, works at the Pulp Mill. Wilbur is a lawyer, Greene, works for the Chamber of Commerce. etc; etc; etc;

I agree that for the time they put in at meetings, and on committee's they are probably underpaid, however their pay is about the same as other Councillors in the Province.

The same doesnt apply to our Mayor. He is well paid for his job, which is a full time job by definition, however may not be in fact.

Council Meetings for 2010---25
Budget Meetings 2010--5
Committee of the whole meetings--4

Total Meetings for the year. 34 at approx 4 hours per meeting equals 136 hours or 17 days. Throw in a like amount for committee meetings, and you have 34 eight hour days of meetings.

Rate of pay for the year $23000.00 divided by 34 days equals $676.00 per day, or $84.00 per hour. Even if they put in more hours than I stated above they really dont do too bad in the pay department.

This of course is in addition to their regular jobs.

As an example there are only 2 meetings scheduled for January.

So with these 'huge' wages that the Mayor and concillors are making, who in this thread is running in the next election?

Hands up. Anyone? I didn't think so.

If being in politics is about the amount of money being made, then they have no place in politics.

Being elected to city council should be about wanting to improve your city first and foremost regardless of hours put in debating the issues. They are grossly over paid from my perspective.

Lets remember that the position of mayor was a part time position in this city until our last mayor who made it a full time position in the 1990's. The city has been in terminal decline ever since.

IMO the city administration are all way over paid and if I was running and elected mayor (lol), than not a single one of them would see their contract renewed for a penny more than the mayors salary without a full public vote by all the counsel members… with a defined sunset clause of three years, so any admin pay above the pay of the mayor has to be voted on and justified be each and every subsequent counsel after each election. We need a mayor that would be the most hated guy at city hall until the new team was in place.

"I could go on, however suffice to say that the job to-day is a cake walk compared to what it used to be. The present Mayor has it pretty good. I doubt if he comes anywhere near putting in 60 hours per week. He would be lucky to get in 40. Dont forget that all the actual work is done by the City Manager, City Clerk, Planning Department, Engineering Dept, etc etc; etc;. At the end of the day this doesnt leave a hell of a lot left for the Mayor. As I said before his is a political position"

Okay, I fully get that you don't support the mayor and that's fine, but are you actually being serious when you suggest that he'd be lucky to put 40 hours a week in? That position probably requires at least 20-30 hours per week just to read and be fully abreast of the plannng documents, budget reports, etc. That is of course unless you believe that Mayor Dan Rogers has the ability to place his hand on a pile of documents and learn everything via osmosis.

So we have the actual meetings themselves which take up a great deal of time, we have the pre-meeting reading and research and we obviously also have post-meeting work in regards to identifying things that need followed up, etc. That about covers the meetings portion of the job and you're basically well over full time hours already.

Now what about all of the other work like meeting with department heads, working with the RCMP on priorities, working with stakeholders on economic issues, working with stakeholders on social issues, working with other members of the UBCM on various things, fielding calls from constituents/other politicians/the press, being the public "face" of PG for events and initiatives being hosted by the City (various conferences, exhibitions, parades, etc.), travelling out of town for various functions, blah, blah, blah.

Yes the administration do a pile of work, but suggesting that the mayor's position is effectively part-time, would be similar to saying that the CEO of Canfor works part-time. It's a completely ludicrous statement, LOL.