When the dust settles after the November 9 municipal election, Martensville’s next Mayor and City Councillors will be getting a raise.

Martensville City Council voted at its September 15 meeting to increase the rate of remuneration for the Mayor and Councillors.

Under the terms of a policy adopted by council in February, 2019, the rate of remuneration for elected officials is intended to be comparable to similar size municipalities in Saskatchewan.

In a report to council September 15, city administration recommended council remuneration be based on a percentage of the current Members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan salaries and allowances.

The new rate will see the Mayor earning 50% of a current MLA’s wage; while City Councillors will receive 40% of the Mayor’s current salary. In addition, the City Councillor who serves as Deputy Mayor will receive an additional per diem of $150 per month.

Per diem rates for city councillors were also raised from $25 to $35 per hour to a maximum of $280 per day.

As of April 1, 2020, an MLA’s base salary is $100,068. The new Martensville Mayor’s salary will be half of that amount, or $50,034.

In 2019, Martensville Mayor Kent Muench earned $50,027 in base salary and expenses, according to the city’s public accounts schedule for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The new remuneration amounts to a 3% increase for the Mayor.

The new remuneration for city councillors, based on 40% of the Mayor’s salary, would be $20,017. Last year, councillors earned between $16,442 and $18,367 in annual remuneration, according to the city’s public accounts schedule for December 31, 2019.

During a Martensville Committee of the Whole meeting September 1, councillors debated the increase.

Councillor Bob Blackwell said while the percentage increase for the Mayor was small, the percentage increase for councillors was considerable. He questioned whether this was an appropriate time for an increase, given the financial hardship the COVID-19 pandemic has created for many residents.

Most councillors felt that the remuneration policy provides fairness for elected representatives, noting the work of council and the civic staff continued unabated even during the period last spring when many businesses and institutions were closed.