More than 50 City of Vernon staffers had six-figure salaries in 2019
by Ben Bulmer
Wages for the City of Vernon's top staff cost an extra $1.7 million in 2019 as more names were added to the list of those taking home $75,000 or more annually.
A total of 133 City employees made an annual salary of more than $75,000 in 2019, up from 114 in 2018. Of the 133 top earners, 51 made more than $100,000.
Vernon Fire Rescue Services contained the largest number of high salaries, with 27 firefighters making more than $100,000 a year. Operation Services came second with nine staffers taking home $100,000 or more, while the Community Infrastructure and Development came in third place with five employees making $100,000 or more.
Vernon's CAO Will Pearce was the City's top earner making $219,868 in 2019.
According to B.C. Stats, the average yearly salary in the province in 2019 was $52,000.
The Statement of Financial Information recently released shows wages cost the City $25,858,649 in 2019, an increase of $1.7 million from 2018.
While some staff at City Hall were making big bucks the politician's wages look modest in comparison.
Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming was paid $88,909 a year and councillors were paid around $33,000.
Councillor Scott Anderson had the highest expenses at $5,692, roughly $1,000 more than Mayor Cumming.
Anderson said he had attended two conferences along with other councillors and didn't know why his expenses would be more than his fellow politicians. He said he had expensed a set per diem for meals, travel and lodging and he'd driven to both conferences.
"I've put in a request with the City to find out... I hate being the one with the biggest amount," Anderson said.
Councillor Kari Gares had the third-highest expenses, after Anderson and Cumming at $4,206. Councillor Akbal Mund expensed $3,164, councillor Kelly Fehr $1,708, and councillor Dalvir Nahal $749. Councillor Brian Quiring expensed the least at $44.
Quiring's firm MQN Architects received $30,000 in payments from the City for various contracts.
The number of high earning City staff has more than doubled over the last decade. In 2010, the City paid 66 staff members more than $75,000 a year.