The Village of Forestburg council will ponder increasing councillor pay rates after a discussion at its Mar. 19 regular meeting.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dwight Dibben presented councillors with a summary of the council pay policy, which governs what councillors are paid and how much they receive for expenses such as food and mileage while representing the village. “The Village of Forestburg recognizes the need for defined rates of reimbursement for the mayor, councillors, staff and council-appointed community board representatives while they are attending to Village of Forestburg business or acting as representatives on behalf of the Village of Forestburg,” stated the CAO’s report to council.

Dibben’s report also went into detail regarding the circumstances under which elected officials and village representatives are paid, and at what rates.

It was noted in the report that the mayor and councillors are paid an annual salary to cover general work, as well as a per diem for meetings and other events. The mayor’s annual salary is $7,440, the deputy mayor’s is $6,200 and councillors receive $4,960 each. A mayor’s salary tends to be higher as the council spokesperson attends more events and spends more time on village work.

Coun. Elaine Fossen stated she felt the deputy mayor salary and council salaries should be at the same level.

“We all do the same amount of work,” said Fossen. “I don’t think it makes a difference (being deputy mayor or councillor). I don’t think it’s right. That’s my thought.”

The CAO stated councillors have the authority to increase council salaries to the same $6,200 level as the deputy mayor and that it would cost $3,700 to do so. Coun. Fossen stated she did not expect the village budget to be changed.

It was also noted some wording in the village’s policy appeared to predate changes that have since been made to provincial law.

As councillors discussed elected officials’ base salaries, it was noted such salaries have not been adjusted in quite some time, perhaps nine years. Councillors also discussed a perception among some members of the public that elected officials such as the mayor and council are paid a significant amount for their service.

Coun. Dayna Oberg stated that councillors boosting their own pay can sometimes be viewed negatively by the public and advised caution if salaries were to be increased.

During discussion, councillors spoke about the size of the proposed salary increase and whether it may be too much at one time; they referred to other municipalities where councillors received increases that were not warmly received by some members of the public.

Mayor Dwayne Giroux noted several times during the meeting that Forestburg’s 2026 budget is under pressure, including rising property assessments and increasing insurance costs, among other factors. He stated it is possible a property tax increase may be coming this year and cautioned councillors about increasing salaries.

As councillors discussed the issue, the CAO noted the village’s other payments, such as food and fuel reimbursements, follow federal government rates.

Councillors directed staff to investigate how other municipalities handle increases such as the one proposed and report back at a future meeting.