Surrey city council’s expense reports for the first quarter of 2019 are in. All together, the nine council members – eight of them Safe Surrey Coalition and one Surrey First – racked up $193,519 in remuneration and expenses.
That included $17,373 in car allowance, $3,215 for communications and $10,036 in conference costs for January to March, 2019.
Other than Mayor Doug McCallum, whose total remuneration and expenses came in at $39,918, Councillor Doug Elford’s total was the highest of the eight councillors at $26,051 and Councillor Mandeep Nagra’s was the lowest, at $20,155.
In comparison, the previous Surrey council under mayor Linda Hepner – all of them from the Surrey First slate – in the first quarter of 2018 reported $213,763 in remuneration and expenses.
Hepner’s total was $46,323 while councillor Mary Martin’s was the highest of the eight councillors at $24,921 and councillor Tom Gill’s was the lowest, at $18,944.
Among conferences attended by this current council was the Local Government Leadership Academy in Richmond in January.
The Big City Mayors Conference in Ottawa also in January, was attended by the mayor.
Also factored in the reports are the 2019 Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Quebec on May 30 to June 2 – though airfare and registration are not – and the 2019 Union of B.C. Municipalities conference set for Vancouver from September 23 to September 27.
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Mayor Doug McCallum’s report says on account of his meeting with Premier John Horgan in Victoria, on Jan. 16, 2019, he received a per diem of $17, and airline tickets cost $394 for a total $411 expenditure for that trip.
The price tag for McCallum attending the Big City Mayors Conference in Ottawa on Jan. 28, 2019, with a $36 per diem, $281 for hotel, $972 in airline tickets and $18 in miscellaneous travel costs, was $1,308.
McCallum’s report includes $279 for hotel for the upcoming FCM conference in Quebec, for a conference expenses total of $1,998.
The mayor received $33,935 in remuneration and indemnities, $3,645 in car allowance and $341 in communications for a total $39,918 in remuneration and expenses.
Councillor Linda Annis’s report indicates $1,368 in conference expenses and $966 spent attending seminars, meetings and events, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $445 for communications. Her total for remuneration and expenses was $21,808.
Councillor Doug Elford’s total remuneration and expenses, at $26,051, included $350 in registration fees, $924 for hotel, $22,720 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 for communications.
Councillor Laurie Guerra’s total remuneration and expenses was $20,845. This included $350 in registration fees, $34 in per diem, $925 for hotel, $165 for seminars, meetings and events, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 for communications.
Councillor Brenda Locke’s total remuneration and expenses were $23,996. This included $350 in registration fees, $457 for hotel, $150 for seminars, meetings and events, $20,983 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 for communications.
Councillor Jack Hundial’s total for remuneration and expenses was $20,346.
This included $350 in registration fees, $476 for hotel, $150 for seminars, events and meetings, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 for communications.
Councillor Mandeep Nagra’s total remuneration and expenses, at $20,155, included $350 in registration fees, $434 for hotel, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 in communications.
Councillor Allison Patton’s total for remuneration and expenses was $20,483. This included $350 in registration fees, $619 in hotel, $101 for seminars, meetings and events, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $383 in communications.
Finally, Councillor Steven Pettigrew’s total for remuneration and expenses was $20,263. This included $350 in registration fees, $26 in per diem, $325 for hotel, $191 for seminars, meetings and events, $17,314 in remuneration and indemnities, $1,716 in car allowance and $341 in communications.
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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