Flin Flon city councillors will soon receive more financial compensation for their work, but the change won’t actually lead to more money in councillor’s pockets.
Councillors approved a change in indemnities for city officials at the Dec. 18 council meeting at City Hall in response to the closure of a federal tax change for elected officials.
Revenue Canada recently changed existing rules with “one-third” tax exemptions for elected officials. In the past, up to one-third of compensation for any councillor, mayor or other political figure was considered tax-exempt.
The exemption was eliminated on Jan. 1.
The change will mean an increase in money paid out to Flin Flon officials, but in an amount offset by the increased tax payments caused by the change.
“What we did was consistent with what other communities were doing,” said Mayor Cal Huntley.
The Town of Creighton approved a similar change in November.
“The rules were changed in regards to indemnities, so we’ve adjusted the indemnities so that the councillors, as they were voted in, are getting the same amount as they were this month,” Huntley said. “It’s an adjustment for the loss of the tax break that was in place. Nothing has changed in regards to our take-home, it’s just that it has to be a little higher in order to compensate.”
Funding
Councillors approved devoting money to two causes with benefits for Flin Flon.
First, council chose to approve sending the Flin Flon Arts Council $1,500 to help fund its upcoming instalment of the North Central Canada Centre of Arts and Environment (NCCCAE) Inspiration series.
At the Nov. 20 council meeting, a delegation from the arts council had requested $5,000 from the city to aid in funding the event.
“The request was a little more than what we’re suggesting, but the recommendation is still a significant support,” said Huntley.
The other funding announcement came for a full-page ad in the upcoming Travel Manitoba northern regional tourism guide. A total of $1,000 was allocated by the city with the funding going towards the city’s previous commitment to their recently unveiled place branding.
SUMA
Flin Flon will have representation at a meeting of Saskatchewan municipal officials. Mayor Huntley, councillor Ken Pawlachuk and chief administrative officer Glenna Daschuk will attend the upcoming Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention on behalf of the city.
It will be Flin Flon’s first time attending the event since meeting with SUMA officials during the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) annual convention in Winnipeg late last year. While a portion of Flin Flon is situated in Saskatchewan, the city had not been actively involved with organized municipal events in the province or with SUMA until 2018.
Delegations from the Town of Creighton and from the Village of Denare Beach will also attend the convention.
