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Capital Regional District board to consider increase to director’s pay

CRD chair Nils Jensen says remuneration hasn't changed significantly in the past 20 years

The CRD will hire a consultant to develop options for an updated compensation philosophy and proposed adjustments to the board remuneration structure. With a report in hand, the CRD finance committee will consider appropriate public input.

Remuneration hasn’t changed significantly in 20 years, says Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, despite growing responsibilities.

“There’s a growing demand on local government politicians,” Jensen said, noting there have been few changes since he entered local politics more than 18 years ago.

“We’re significantly out of step with the other regional districts.”

Remuneration to CRD directors is comprised of an annual base payment plus an expense payment; remuneration for municipal directors is a standard amount, as is remuneration for Electoral Area directors; additional payments are also provided to the CRD board chair and the Capital Regional Hospital District chair. As well, per-meeting payments are paid to vice-chairs, alternate directors, committee chairs and municipal directors who vote on decisions of the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area; per-meeting payments are also paid to Regional Water Supply commissioners.

The annual change in remuneration is based on the average of the monthly change in the Consumer Price Index for the Victoria area for the 12 months ending Oct. 31 of the preceding year.

“We’re one of the more complex regional districts,” Jensen said. “Remuneration obviously should reflect the amount of time politicians put in and the complexity of the situation.”

 

cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com