(Photo: Quinte News / File)
With federal changes coming to how councillors’ salaries are taxed, the next Quinte West council will be making more money to offset that difference.
Currently, one third of councillors’ salaries is tax exempt, but that rule is being removed this December and would see councillors taxed on their full remuneration and overall income.
Depending on the tax bracket individual council members fall into, the additional taxes could add up to between $1,300 and $3,500 on councillors and between $3,500 and $9,000 on the mayor.
By a 9-4 recorded vote, council decided Monday to increase councillors’ pay by 18% so the take home pay would stay the same as it is now.
The cost impact to the municipality would be about $53,460 for the 2019 fiscal year.
A chart from the Coroporate and Financial Services Department, outlining the changes, can be seen below.
