Increase In Remuneration Coming For Board Of Education

PRINCE GEORGE- School District 57 Board of Education approved at least a 1.5% increase in remuneration to come into effect on July 1. District policy allows the Board to vote on a 1.5% increase each year, however, the current Board has only approved the raise twice in its four-year term. “The 1.5% is not an automatic annual increase it is something that has to be voted on by the Board prior to March 1,” said Chair, Tim Bennett, “during the last round we had staff under a wage freeze, the Board felt it was inappropriate to increase our remuneration when we had staff that was not getting an increase.”  Last night, a 1.5% increase was approved in hopes it will attract more people to run for trustee in the upcoming municipal election. “For trustees who may have a full-time job you’re having to take vacation time to do trustee duties, we want to make sure people who are in the position are not taking a huge financial hit.”

Remuneration increases to $18,544 for the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson is $17,044, and Trustee is $15,544. The Board is also looking at adjusting remuneration before the Federal Income Tax Act changes on January 1. Currently, a third of remuneration is tax-free, but changes to the Act will make it all taxable. “With the new laws, the whole amount will be taxed which means the Trustees would take home even less pay for their services,” said Trustee Bruce Wiebe. The Board will consider adjustments to offset the tax change in the coming months.