Mayor Argues In Favour Of Increasing Car Allowance
It is an issue which has been addressed before at Council and that is the mayor's vehicle allowance.
Originally turned down in the past by Council the vehicle allowance came up as part of Executive Committee's debate and discussion surrounding the next Council’s remuneration.
If passed all changes to remuneration would become effective after the swearing in of the next Council after November's general civic election.
Presently the mayor receives a $100 monthly car allowance whereas the city manager receives $500 monthly vehicle allowance.
During the remuneration discussion Mayor Fraser Tolmie once again requested the $500 monthly vehicle allowance.
“This is very difficult to debate or dispute because you feel sometimes this is very reflective of yourself,” Mayor Tolmie said when asking the in-town car allowance be increased to $500.
“When I look at the city car allowance at $150 per month I think that is very low. And everybody knows the more mileage you put on your vehicle the less it is worth at the end of it,” he said.
Mayor Tolmie favoured a position where the mayor's travel budget be reduced from just over $13,000 annually to $10,000 annually and ear mark those funds to increasing the car allowance.
“Instead of increasing a benefit we should be taking it from somewhere else,” he said.
Councillor Chris Warren backed the Mayor's calls to increase the car allowance because the mayor is the leader of the City and needs to be able to get around to numerous events around the community.
“They (the mayor) are the leader of the community. Our mayor fights for our community. Our mayor champions for our community both in and outside our community…travel is given for all that work,” Councillor Warren stated. “To me you need a car for that and it is a major expense. I would expect and assume our mayor is probably using their personal vehicle more than our city manager and any other city employee do.”
“I see this as a no brainer and certainly would not want a weak vehicle allowance to be a challenge for any of our future mayor’s.”
Greg McIntyre, a member of the Remuneration Panel, said the panel had decided upon a $150 monthly car allowance based upon around Moose Jaw travel.
“Comparing this to other (businesses) for around town travel it is not common (for an employer) to supply an around town car,” McIntyre said.
It needs to be noted in the 2016 nomination package nowhere does it state in the qualifications to run for mayor candidates, if successful, need to have a driver's license and access to a car.
Mayor Tolmie said he would recommend the mayor also not receive additional compensation for travel less than 250 kilometers from the city. The move would streamline the paperwork process as trips to Regina would no longer require filing paperwork for vehicle expense claims.
He went on to state the total vehicle cost was much higher than the $150 offered.
Mayor Tolmie stated the automotive rating firm JD Powers has stated it costs $925 monthly to operate a vehicle.
The $500 car allowance was approved by Executive Committee in a 5 - 2 vote as part of a single remuneration vote with Mayor Tolmie, Councillors Scott McMann, Heather Eby, Dawn Luhning and Warren in favour. Councillors Brian Swanson and Crystal Froese was opposed.
The vote, if approved by Council, would see the next mayor receiving a 21.6 percent remuneration increase and councillors pay hiked by 28.5 percent after the swearing in of the new council in November.
The minutes of the Executive Committee are expected to be part of this coming Monday's (July 13th) meeting and may if any council member requests it re-voted on and further debated.