Council Compensation

In 2012, Council established an Independent Council Compensation Committee, comprising five citizen members appointed by the City Manager. The mandate of the Committee was to review and make recommendations on the remuneration provided to Members of Council, following research and public consultation.

The March 22, 2017, federal budget announcement indicated the intention to change the Income Tax Act to require the salaries and allowances of MLAs, school trustees, and municipal mayors and councillors to be fully taxable, starting no later than January 1, 2019.

At the April 11, 2017, City Council meeting, a motion was passed to align current practice with proposed federal legislation changes, effective October 24, 2017, (the 2017 municipal election).

Salaries

Salaries are adjusted effective the first pay period of each year. The percentage increase or decrease is calculated using the percentage change in the 12 month average of the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings values from September of the previous year against the same value for the year prior, as reported by Statistics Canada. The 2017 decrease is 2.49%. 

Following is the salary that Members of Council are eligible to receive.  Currently, one third of the salary for Mayor and Councillors is tax exempt, as allowed by the Municipal Government Act and the federal Income Tax Act.

The fully taxable equivalent, which Members of Council will be eligible to receive effective October 24, 2017, is also shown (To be reviewed by August 2017, pending establishment of an Independent Council Compensation Committee).  There will be no material net salary differential, i.e., no salary advantage for the Mayor and Councillors.

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	*Effective October 24, 2017
Mayor	$163,928	$169,681	$176,145	$177,695	$173,269	$209,835
Councillors	$93,057	$96,323	$99,994	$100,873	$98,362	$116,062

* To be reviewed by August 2017, pending establishment of an Independent Council Compensation Committee.

Benefits

	City of Edmonton	Council Member
Alberta Health	0%	0%
Major Medical	70%	30%
Dental Plan	65%	35%
Long Term Disability	0%	100%
Life Insurance	50%	50%

All members of Council receive an annual $500 flexible Health Care Spending Account.

Vehicle Allowance

Mayor	$1,204.78 per month (1/3 tax exempt) or the choice of a City-owned vehicle
Councillors	$601.35 per month (1/3 tax exempt)

Vehicle allowance amounts are indexed by the increase or decrease in the City of Edmonton mileage rate from January 1 of the previous year to January 1 of the current year. The change becomes effective in July of each year. The fully taxable equivalent is $1,522.68 (Mayor) and $717.07 (Councillors) per month.  The fully taxable allowance will become effective October 24, 2017.  There will be no net benefit for the Mayor and Councillors.

Retirement Benefit

Members of Council have the option to participate in one of the following retirement contribution options:

a. 11% contribution by the City of Edmonton to elected official's total annual salary to support retirement; or 

b. 12% contribution by the City of Edmonton directed to Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) Defined Contribution Pension Plan.

Transition Allowance

The City of Edmonton Members of Council will be provided with a transition allowance, upon the conclusion of their service, equal to three weeks salary for each year served, to a maximum of 36 weeks.

Parking

Members of Council are provided with parking permits for reserved stalls in City Hall, valued at $3,780.00 per year. Councillors' receive complimentary parking at Stanley Milner Library or Canada Place parkades, which they may or may not choose to use.  They are also provided with complimentary permits for metered parking on City-owned property and restricted residential parking.

Transit Passes

Members of Council are offered City transit passes and may or may not choose to accept them. They are valued at $94.50 per month ($1,134 per year).

Employee Savings and Discounts

Members of Council may take advantage of savings and discounts offered to all City employees, including a 50% discount for admission to City recreation facilities.     

Independent Council Compensation Committee

2012/ 2013 Council compensation review final report

2012 Council compensation questionnaire results

2006 Council Compensation Review Final Report