Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ trustees will vote on whether to increase their pay to offset the effect of new tax laws at their Jan. 30 regular meeting.
Under new Canada Revenue Agency regulations which took effect on Jan. 1, the full amount of Nanaimo Ladysmith school district trustee remuneration is now subject to taxation, whereas a third was exempt before. The district business committee recommends a $1,400 annual pay raise, which if approved, would increase trustee compensation to $18,470 annually from $17,070, while the board chairperson annual pay would increase to $20,470 from $19,070.
Carrie McVeigh, district secretary-treasurer, told the committee that the B.C. School Trustees Association publishes surveys on trustee compensation in December and the district is “significantly lower” than similar-sized districts.
RELATED: With tax changes, Nanaimo trustees debate raise
A staff report said another consideration for trustees is the previous board was offered group benefits and new trustees are not be eligible for the B.C. Public Sector Employers’ Association plan, as the association deemed in 2015 that trustees aren’t employees and therefore not eligible. Returning trustees are still eligible for coverage, however.
Charlene McKay, school board chairwoman, said when looking at information from BCSTA, there are other considerations to examine. The district should consider establishment of a vice-chairperson pay scale, a common practice in the province, she said.
“I think pay equity is important amongst trustees all doing similar jobs and we have a couple of people receiving benefits, and it’s not to their discredit,” said McKay. “Of course, those were offered to them at the time, but … that’s no longer an option for us and that’s where the inequity is created. It’s the lack of option, and so I think it’s worth debating whether or not there’s pay compensation for that in relation to the tax change increase.”
McKay said there are other organizations, including City of Nanaimo and other school districts, that have moved forward with tax exemption changes and that should factor into looking at an increase.
Stephanie Higginson, a returning trustee, was in favour of the recommendation and pointed out that it isn’t a pay increase per se.
“Trustees are still taking home the same amount of money,” said Higginson.
It was also decided to further discuss compensation increases for future boards and related pay structures at a business committee meeting in June.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter