Chilliwack school board trustees voted unanimously in favour of increasing their remuneration for the upcoming year, by two per cent.
The raise translates to an increase of about a dollar a day, and is the first increase local trustees have had in seven years. Five trustees currently receive $18,000, the vice-chair, Dan Coulter receives $18,900 and trustee chair Silvia Dyck receives $19,800.
The increase will be effective July 1, this year.
The last increase for the board was on Feb. 1, 2009, similar to district staff, who had also had little to no compensation increase for a number of years.
In a decision report to the board, secretary treasurer Gerry Slykhuis noted that with recently negotiated and approved increases for some district staff, it was time for the trustees to also see an increase. The board also approved a recommendation to follow the Consumer Price Index in following years, automatically adjusting the remuneration in accordance with 28 other B.C. school boards.
Not all trustees agreed with the decision, and the board voted separately on the raise and the decision to follow the CPI.
“It’s always awkward to talk about a raise,” Trustee Barry Neufeld said. Following the CPI would give the trustees stability, he noted, and the raise was “very modest and very reasonable.”
Trustee Walt Krahn voted against following the CPI, as it could mean there would be years they could receive a raise while staff receives none.
“We need to be mindful that we are all in this together,” he said.
Trustee Paul McManus also voted against the CPI, but agreed it was time for the two per cent increase.
“Costs have gone up tremendously,” he said. “I don’t have any issue giving ourselves a raise, but I don’t feel comfortable getting and annual increase.”
Trustee Heather Maahs noted that being a part of the CPI could also mean some years would mean a decrease in remuneration, and Slykhuis added that it has happened in the past, with economic downturns.
Dyck spoke strongly in favour of ensuring future trustees would be adequately compensated for their time devoted to local education.
She said it was “an honour and a privilege” to hold a public office, and that they needed to ensure the remuneration package allows others to devote their time to the job in the future.