VIDEO: Kelowna Mayor seeks more regular salary reviews after council approves big raise

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, hopes to save future councils from the awkwardness that was felt in Kelowna council chambers this week.

After letting pay levels for members of council slip to at or near the bottom among comparable cities, councillors had to vote on whether or not it was time for a big raise.

"It's not an easy discussion," said Dyas.

"Maybe that's why the decision, over the years, hasn't been made."

The Mayor spoke to KelownaNow via Zoom from Victoria where he is attending meetings of the Municipal Finance Authority.

Dyas stands behind his decision to support a 15% pay increase for himself, and 35% for councillors.

"A catch-up that needed to be done," he said.

"To bring council and the Mayor in line with other communities."

After the 5-3 vote, councillors can expect their pay to go from just under $43,000 per year to over $58,000, while the Mayor's annual salary will jump to over $145,000 from the current $126,497.

For the last 13 years, Kelowna City Council members have seen pay increases tied to the consumer price index.

That meant increases in the 1.5% range each year.

When compared to other cities of similar size around the province Kelowna councillors had fallen to the bottom.

"Basically receiving the lowest out of those 12 cities surveyed," explained Dyas. "And the Mayor was second lowest."

He said it raises serious questions about the city's ability to attract the best candidates to run for office.

"We heard that last election," he said.

So Dyas wants salary reviews in the future to take place more frequently to avoid the need for big raises.

"Potentially biannually," he said, "so it doesn't fall into the position of where it is at this time."

Dyas said he hasn't received a lot of backlash over the pay increases.

"At this time we've received four emails," he said. "Two that were from 'very against this happening', and two that were very supportive."

Councillors Lovegrove, Webber and Singh voted against the raises as they were drawn up.