Municipal councillors in Inverness Co. have approved a pay raise to help offset a change to federal income tax regulations.
One-third of a municipal councillor’s stipend used to be tax-free to off-set the cost of travel, but federal officials have removed that exemption, so their take-home pay will be less.
Inverness Co. councillors voted in favour of topping up their stipend to cover the difference at December’s regular municipal council meeting; the change came into effect Jan. 1.
Betty Ann MacQuarrie, the warden of the municipality, tells The Hawk the increase doesn’t mean they’re taking home any more money.
“We thought it would be only fair for ourselves, as we are the current council, and also for future council members, to be fair in compensation that is granted for the work we do around the clock.”
Antigonish town and county councillors made the same decision, while municipal councillors in Guysborough voted against a pay increase; Port Hawkesbury town councillors delayed their decision until budget deliberations.
