Councillors cost taxpayers $280Gs

June 22, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
The high calibre leadership at King Township is a bargain, in the big picture. For 2015, the local community has released it’s payroll details for all major employees. This is one of the perks of using digital payroll software similar to Cloudpay payroll services. Here are the details are broken down into salaries, benefits, health, mileage and conferences etc:

It cost taxpayers $278,791.12 for salaries and expenses for its mayor and councillors in 2015. That $280,000 is a tiny fraction of the Township’s annual budget expenditure of roughly $34 million.

Mayor Steve Pellegrini earned $46,777.06, with payroll benefits of $6,492.48 and health benefits of $5,865.24. He incurred another $2,598.73 in mileage and another $2.060.77 in expenses for conferences, memberships, etc.

All councillors were given the identical $5,865.24 in health benefits. They are also given $350 each for their cell phones.

Treasurer Allan Evelyn explained that payroll benefits are deductions and pension contributions, while health benefits include insurance premiums. Neither are paid to the councillor, but are considered a cost to the municipality.

Cleve Mortelliti earned $26,123.29 and another $2,595.82 in payroll benefits. He incurred $1,717.26 in expenses.

David Boyd earned $25,984.88 and $2,581.15 in payroll benefits. He charged $103.02 for mileage and $1,598.82 for expenses.

Linda Pabst took in $26,054.09 and $1,901.95 in payroll benefits. She received $427 for mileage.

Bill Cober earned $25,846.48 and another $2,566.48 in payroll benefits.

Debbie Schaefer earned $25,846.48 and another $2,566.48 in payroll benefits. She charged $1,427.43 for expenses.

Avia Eek earned $26,192.49 and $2,603.15 in payroll benefits. She incurred $1,325.31 in expenses.

Total salaries were just over $200,000, with benefits and expenses bringing the grand total to just under $280,000.

By comparison, in nearby Caledon, area councillors (with benefits) earn roughly $40,000. Caledon has four councillors who sit on Peel Regional Council, and they earn over $70,000 combined.