Report recommends big pay bump for Saint John mayor, councillors

A new report recommends that Saint John’s mayor and council receive a significant raise.

The report recommends about a 30 per cent increase to the mayor’s salary and expenses bringing it to about $74,000 per year and increases are also recommended for the deputy mayor and members of council. Even if the report is adopted the mayor’s salary would still be about $10,000 less than his counterpart in Moncton.

Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary motioned for a review which hasn’t been done in over a decade.

“You should never expect someone to work for the last 14 years and not get an increase and especially the mayor,” McAlary said. “The mayor does a lot more work than the council members do.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You should never expect someone to work for the last 14 years and not get an increase and especially the mayor," McAlary said. "The mayor does a lot more work than the council members do."

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Councillor Gary Sullivan doesn’t like the idea of giving himself a raise, not that an increase isn’t justified.

“I think it’s something we should really look at for the next incoming council,” Sullivan said. “So we can certainly review these and look at what’s fair compensation for the work that we do.”

A number of citizens questioned tended to agree.

“I think that when they run for the job they run on the basis of the salary that’s offered at that time,” said Wick Dobbin.

Matthew Deveau added: “Honestly I think the money could go to a whole lot more things that are more useful now than a pay raise.”

“I believe that they’re already getting plenty that they deserve when the other people that are working that aren’t getting what they deserve,” Fernand LeBreton said.

McAlary says the truth is there is no good time for politicians to give themselves a raise.

“It doesn’t matter how much the increase is,” she said. “I mean people can make excuses but it doesn’t matter. When you’re in public office, people don’t want to pay you.”

Council will receive the report on Monday.