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Regional Expense Money or Pay Hike?

By Ben Meisner

While the Fraser- Fort George Regional District may be trying to sell the idea the $900 dollars a year for each Director that's up for a vote today is an expense item, the reality is that in a pre- ruling, Revenue Canada thinks quite differently.

They say, unless you have the receipts, it is a taxable benefit.  In layman’s terms, just a raise of your pay. 

So what does $900 dollars a year do for a Regional District Director?  Well it increases their pay by just under 10% a year. Nice raise, especially if you can sell it to the public that it ,well, gee wiz, was really for ink for my printer, or my internet connection, you know,  stuff for my computer . 

So will the Directors (who can sign on voluntarily) take the tax bite to get the cash?  You be the judge, but in my world 60% of a loaf is better than none. 

The Directors receive a salary at present of $9,535.18 per year plus committee meeting revenue which ranges from a high of $3,625 dollars for Betty Abbs, to a low of Mike Fraser who collected only $250 last year , that is of course above their regular salary and their expenses . 

If you want a raise, better to try and pass it off as "expenses" when there's only six months  left before an election.

That, is one man's opinion.



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