City's SOFI Report outlines 2019 compensation and expense totals for Mayor and Council

City Council members will receive the 2019 SOFI report
at tonight's council session, the City was offered a
two month extension back in June towards
delivery of the financial document 

An increase in salaries and benefits of just under 56,000 dollars and just over 4,000 dollars more in expenses from last year, makes for the bottom line notes for this years overview of Civic pay and expenses for the city's elected officials.

Prince Rupert City Council members will receive the annual Statement of Financial Information report at this evening's Council session, the document which normally is part of the June Budget information period relay has been released in August this year. 

That delay was allowed after the province granted municipal governments an extra two months to put it all together owing to COVID.

The SOFI review for 2019 provides a look at the compensation for Mayor and Council, as well as their total expenses over the last year; in addition, the annual statement lists the salaries paid out by the City for those employees making 75,000 dollars or more.

The document also reviews spending on goods or services for the year ending December 2019.

The 2019 findings provide for a total salary, benefits and expenses level for the Mayor and six council members of $235,856; making for a significant increase from the report from last year which totalled just over $175,000

Mayor Lee Brain leads the salary listings for the elected officials, his remuneration and taxable benefits for civic duties listed at $76,336, Mr. Brain also recorded $17,978 in expenses in 2019. 

When combined his Remuneration, Benefits and Expenses come to $94,314.

In addition to his Income derived from the City of Prince Rupert, Mr. Brain is also compensated for his work as part of Regional District.

As we noted earlier this month, those duties provided for an additional  $15,346 in salary and expenses of $73 for the Mayor.

The Mayor's Totals from both SOFI reports come to $109,733

As we outlined earlier this month, Mr. Brain remains atop the compensation lists for all of the communities west of Prince George.

When it comes to the city's six Council members, all received $18,750, compensation the new level which was put in place as part of the 2019 Salary review which also returned Mayor Brain to full time status and full time pay.

Expenses and Regional District duties made for some differences in the final financial results for each individual council member in 2019.

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Barry Cunningham (All Totals -- $41,071)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750 -- Expenses  $ 5,657

Regional District remuneration $16,627  -- Expenses $37 

Reid Skelton Morven (All Totals -- $26,637)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750 -- Expenses $7,887

Wade Neish (All Totals -- $23,787)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750 -- Expenses $4,305

Regional District remuneration $732 -- Expenses $0

Gurvinder Randhawa (All Totals -- $ 22,519)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750  -- Expenses $3,586

Regional District remuneration $183 -- Expenses 0

Nick Adey (All Totals -- $22,885)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750 -- Expenses $4,135

Blair Mirau (All Totals -- $22,222)

City of Prince Rupert remuneration $18,750  -- Expenses $3,472

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2019 was the first year that Council members could no longer make use of the former tax mechanism of the tax free benefit; a federal income tax provision which in years past had allowed for elected officials to claim one third of their salaries as tax free, 

That change was one of a number of factors that were examined as part of last years salary review. The review from the Mayor's Blue Ribbon panel of 2019 included a look as to how Council members could address that revision to the tax policies from Revenue Canada.

As they have in the past, the City of Prince Rupert does not provide for an expanded or detailed review of the expenses incurred by elected civic officials, using the lump sum totals of the SOFI report towards their full disclosure.

Your first glimpse of the SOFI information for 2019 can be reviewed from the Agenda for the August 24th Regular Council session, the full compilation of notes for the session can be found starting on page 17.

The SOFI documentation will be received following tonight's City Council session which starts at 7PM, once received by Council the SOFI statement will be included as part of the complete package of financial information available on the City's Website.

You can also review the salary data for the last ten years from those archives.

The Salary and Expense review is just one of a number of elements from the SOFI report, as we work our way through the volume of information we'll provide for our overview of the city's notes below:

City of Prince Rupert SOFI report shows employee pay and benefits continue to rise

More items of note on the City's budget process can be reviewed here, while our archive of articles on past City Council Discussion themes can be found here. 

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.