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Red Deer County sets pay for next council

Pay increases for mayor and council to be tied to consumer price index.
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The next Red Deer County council’s pay will be tied to the province’s consumer price index.

Previously, mayor and council received a 1.5 per cent annual increase to reflect inflation.

The consumer price index (CPI) measures changes in the price of a market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households. The index showed prices in February were up 2.2 per cent on average over February 2016.

Red Deer County will use July numbers to set the next council’s pay increase, which will kick in Nov. 1 after the October municipal elections.

Starting Oct. 20, base pay for the mayor will be set at $85,439 and councillors $59,967.

Since council pay was reviewed extensively by a citizen-led committee in 2010 and 2013, which led to the current transparent pay structure, county staff recommended only an internal review be done this time.

Coun. Connie Huelsman said tying council’s pay increase to CPI is important.

“I think we’re on the right track and it’s very transparent.”

Council pay and expenses are published on the county’s website at www.rdcounty.ca.

The increase was unanimously approved by council.