Thunder Bay City Council is rubber stamping a modest pay raise in 2021.
Administration told council Monday that the increase, which would be retroactive to January 1st, carries a $3,000 price tag but has been included in the 2021 budget.
The bump up in pay means an extra $575 for Mayor Bill Mauro, who was the only elected member to vote against the increase. Meantime each councillor will receive $190.
“Nobody is in here for the money, I respect that,” remarked At Large Councillor Rebecca Johnson. “[However] the amount of time that you give to this job is huge and it really has to be recognized in some manner, shape or form.”
Administration recommended the raise should be tied to half the rate of inflation in the city for 2020, which was calculated at 0.55% based on the consumer price index of 1.1%.
Johnson made reference to that in further comment: “The amount of money that we are receiving is fair but the process is crucial because it took us so long to get to this point where we have an annual increase that still needs the approval of council.”
The last time council discussed an increase in pay they voted it down which saved the corporation a total of $4,900.
