The City Red Deer’s highest paid employee is getting a raise.
Council approved a 3.5 per cent increase to City Manager Craig Curtis’s salary on Monday to align it with other comparable cities in Western Canada.
Curtis will take home $264,158 later this year after a 3.5 per retroactive increase effective November 2015, and another 3.5 per cent that will take effect on Nov. 1, 2016.
The city manager will not receive a 2016 cost of living increase because his salary is set by council policy and is reviewed every four years.
Mayor Tara Veer said council phased in the implementation of the market increase and eliminated the 2.8 per cent cost of living adjustment with the reality of the weakened economy and the fiscal climate.
Kristy Svoboda, Human Resources director, said the city reviews and adjusts its management salaries on an annual basis to ensure they remain competitive with other comparable municipalities and related organizations.
“However, today’s economic conditions means tighter budgets for municipalities, and this increase reflects the current economic reality while ensuring we can continue to attract and retain qualified management staff to serve the public well,” said Svoboda.
About 150 exempt (non-union) employees including directors, managers, supervisors and superintendents will see a 1.5 per cent cost of living increase.
A 1.5-per-cent cost of living adjustment for council effective July 1 was also approved.
Under its 2013-policy, council would have been due for a 2.8 per cent increase as of July 1, 2016. The annual wage adjustment is based on Alberta average wage rates of the previous year.
Veer said council voted to reduce the policy-directed 2016 adjustment to 1.5 per cent from 2.8 per cent and effectively freeze salaries for the first two quarters of 2016 in light of the current economic reality.
Eight councillors currently take home $57,016 and will make $57,871, as of July 1 with the increase. The mayor’s salary will increase to $105,220 from $103,665 as of July 1.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com