Mayor Brian Smith votes himself massive pay rise

Earlier this year people were upset that our Mayor Brian Smith gave himself a 40% pay increase while upping the municipal portion of our taxes by more than 17.5%. (With more to come.)

Note: All members of Council voted their own raises. The Mayors was the highest percentage.

Back then I reminded everyone that Mayor Smith also collected a tidy sum from both Wasaga Distribution AND Simcoe County.

Well, yesterday’s news is certainly a huge shock to the public and to all previous politicians that have served with integrity and fiscal responsibility. County Council (Which includes Mayor Smith and Deputy Mayor Snell) voted to give themselves a 165% increase. You heard that right; ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT!

(This number is quoted in County reports, but some have calculated it to be closer to 200% depending on per-diem.)

Before I expand on this discussion, I want to point out that both the municipal wage increase and the County wage increase saw these elected officials relying on some of the same reasoning. In part they say that the old wages simply couldn’t attract high quality candidates. Well, THEY TOOK THE POSITIONS KNOWING WHAT THE REMUNERATION WAS. Are they finally admitting we need higher quality candidates than what they consider themselves?

This pattern of taking advantage of the public and abusing their unregulated power to decide their own compensation makes me wonder what kind of an increase Mayor Smith has voted on for serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Wasaga Distribution?

Maybe one day next week, I will break down what our previous Council earned and compare it to what these opportunists will make in their final year?

I say “final year” with intent. I hope the public realize the current group of politicians do NOT care about fiscal responsibility and relieve them of their responsibility. They throw a great party. They know how to enjoy hospitality at our expense. But they have NO CONCEPT for what it means to stand up for what’s right!

– Wasaga Beach Wage. ($30,800, from $24,600, +14%)

– Expense Account.(New this term-$5000)

– **Reimbursed for Conference Expenses.

(One Councilor, Joe Belanger even claimed back-pay for expenses in his last term.)

– Wasaga Beach Wage.

– ($35,300, from $31,500, +26%)

– Simcoe County Wage ($41,717 from $18,079, +165%)

– Expense Account. (New this term, $5000)

– **Reimbursed for Conference Expenses.

– Wasaga Beach Wage ($63,500, from $45,300, +26%)

– Simcoe County Wage ($41,717 from $18,079, +165%)

– W.D.I. Wage ( Guessing $18,000, unknown increase)

– Expense Account. (New this term, $5000)

– **Reimbursed for Conference Expenses.

*Note; these numbers are minimums based on minimum participation. Much of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor rémunération from the County is estimated by using average per-diems. If they CHOOSE to serve on additional committees, these amounts will grow.)

(If for instance either was to become Warden, they would get an extra $181,000.00)

**(Expenses at conferences could be anywhere from $1500- $4500 per member plus meals hosted by the Mayor)

Another point for today… why now? Well if they pillage our taxes two years before an election maybe we will FORGET about this? Personally I won’t forget, as I’m certain I will be finding ways to cope with the MASSIVE tax increases necessary to finance these greedy decisions!

– Create Bylaws that shape our community- FAIL

– Establish Budgets that stimulate growth while serving the needs of our citizens- FAIL