Multiple municipalities create a huge burden for taxpayers
Carolyn Heiman,
Times-Colonist Columnist
July 23, 2008
Couldn't reach the chief executive officer of the municipality of Mission yesterday to see if he'd like to be paid three times more than his $154,277 salary. Chances are he wouldn't turn it down, and who wouldn't.
Mission -- with 37,000 folks -- has about the same population as Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich combined yet each has their own council and slate of senior officers to run the ships.
The three Peninsula municipalities pay their chief administrative officers a range that is in keeping with the role but collectively adds up to $453,809. This makes the $570,897 salary paid to B.C. Hydro boss Bob Elton almost seem like a bargain. He keeps the lights on in the entire province -- or at least most of the time.
Herein lies a small part of the difficulty in making changes to the fragmented way the region is governed. Many ordinary citizens say they are stupefied when trying to comprehend the rationale of keeping 13 municipalities and their 91 politicians. But those in charge -- from the top executive officers down to the elected officials -- like it that way. And who can blame them? They do have a sizable self interest in keeping things the way they are.
Small wonder the amalgamation word never crosses their lips. Instead "integration" is the new watchword. Unlike amalgamation, integration still keeps the top layer of governance and administration in place.
Last week, we looked at some costs coming out of Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Saanich. In some areas, those costs exceed amounts paid at major metropolitan cities such as Toronto and New York although the combined population of the four is more like Saskatoon.
A few letter writers rose up, worried that any merger would "equal character assassination" for communities. That kind of fearmongering misses that the neighbourhoods of Burnside, Rockland and James Bay -- all distinct and yet all within the boundaries of Victoria -- are more different from each other than Colwood and Langford. Lines on a map do not create neighbourhoods.
Those few writers were overshadowed by many more who concur that it is time for change. If one city incorporating all 13 municipalities seems a stretch, an argument can be made to go baby steps in the process and reduce the number of municipalities to three.
Which brings us back to the Peninsula communities where taxpayers remunerate the three councils a total of $262,842. The sums paid to council members aren't large but also include a one-third tax-free portion that makes them less transparent to the public. The three Peninsula fire chiefs collectively earn $282,144, a sum that could be used in more effective ways even if devoted to firefighting in the area.
There are six salaries that exceed $100,000 and the North Saanich administrator tops the list at $154,809.
Still to come: Spending in View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke.
© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.
Carolyn Heiman,
Times-Colonist Columnist
July 23, 2008
Couldn't reach the chief executive officer of the municipality of Mission yesterday to see if he'd like to be paid three times more than his $154,277 salary. Chances are he wouldn't turn it down, and who wouldn't.
Mission -- with 37,000 folks -- has about the same population as Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich combined yet each has their own council and slate of senior officers to run the ships.
The three Peninsula municipalities pay their chief administrative officers a range that is in keeping with the role but collectively adds up to $453,809. This makes the $570,897 salary paid to B.C. Hydro boss Bob Elton almost seem like a bargain. He keeps the lights on in the entire province -- or at least most of the time.
Herein lies a small part of the difficulty in making changes to the fragmented way the region is governed. Many ordinary citizens say they are stupefied when trying to comprehend the rationale of keeping 13 municipalities and their 91 politicians. But those in charge -- from the top executive officers down to the elected officials -- like it that way. And who can blame them? They do have a sizable self interest in keeping things the way they are.
Small wonder the amalgamation word never crosses their lips. Instead "integration" is the new watchword. Unlike amalgamation, integration still keeps the top layer of governance and administration in place.
Last week, we looked at some costs coming out of Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Saanich. In some areas, those costs exceed amounts paid at major metropolitan cities such as Toronto and New York although the combined population of the four is more like Saskatoon.
A few letter writers rose up, worried that any merger would "equal character assassination" for communities. That kind of fearmongering misses that the neighbourhoods of Burnside, Rockland and James Bay -- all distinct and yet all within the boundaries of Victoria -- are more different from each other than Colwood and Langford. Lines on a map do not create neighbourhoods.
Those few writers were overshadowed by many more who concur that it is time for change. If one city incorporating all 13 municipalities seems a stretch, an argument can be made to go baby steps in the process and reduce the number of municipalities to three.
Which brings us back to the Peninsula communities where taxpayers remunerate the three councils a total of $262,842. The sums paid to council members aren't large but also include a one-third tax-free portion that makes them less transparent to the public. The three Peninsula fire chiefs collectively earn $282,144, a sum that could be used in more effective ways even if devoted to firefighting in the area.
There are six salaries that exceed $100,000 and the North Saanich administrator tops the list at $154,809.
Still to come: Spending in View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke.
© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.