TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 13, 2026 Report No. ADM-26-032
TO: Councill
FROM: Mark Jeckway, Senior Human Resources Manager
SUBJECT: Mayor and Council Remuneration Review
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Mayor and Council receive Staff Report ADM-26-032 for information and provide staff with direction to revise Council Remuneration Bylaw, 2022, No. 3084, effective November 1, 2026.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
An independent consultant was retained to provide a review and produce a report on Mayor and Council Remuneration. The report will provide Mayor and Council the information to direct staff to update Council Remuneration Bylaw, 2022, No. 3084, effective November 1, 2026. As per Council policy this review and Bylaw update is required every four years.
BACKGROUND:
The Township of Esquimalt’s policy ADMIN-62 outlines that Mayor and Council appoint staff or an independent consultant to review and compare Council remuneration in the fourth year of a Council Term to comparable communities in British Columbia using pre-determined selection criteria. In accordance with Council Policy ADMIN-58 and Market Analysis of Council Remuneration, Council remuneration will be based on the median remuneration as the most objective and fair measurement. The Township’s bylaw outlines that Councillors are to be paid 40% of the Mayor’s annual salary.
A list of comparable communities was agreed upon by Council on April 27, and the independent consultant began collecting the relevant data shortly after. The following 13 local municipalities in British Columbia were contacted:
Colwood
Cranbrook
Dawson Creek
Langford
Langley (city)
Oak Bay
Pitt Meadows
Port Alberni
Powell River
Prince Rupert
Sidney
Squamish
White Rock
The Consultant’s report (Attachment 1) outlines the median salary for both the Mayor and Council for the 13 municipalities.
ANALYSIS:
As outlined in the report from the Consultant, the median salary for the Mayor’s position is $84,776. The mayor is currently paid a rate of $70,455 annually, a difference of approximately 20.3%.
Table 1 - Data Summary of Comparator Municipalities
OPTIONS:
• That Mayor and Council receive Staff Report ADM-26-032 for information and provide staff with direction to revise Council remuneration Bylaw, 2022, No. 3084, Effective November 1, 2026.
• That Council provide alternative direction to staff.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
This Request for Decision is not directly related to any specific Council priority.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If Council remuneration were to be set at the median of the 13 comparator municipalities, and the Councillors’ rate set at 40% of the Mayor’s annual remuneration, as established in the current Bylaw, the rate would result in an annual increase of $37,985 (20.3% increase), as detailed below:
Median rate of Mayor: $84,776. Current rate: $70,445. Difference: $14,331
40% of Median rate (Councilor): $33,910. Current rate: $29,968. Difference: $3,942
As these changes would be effective on November 1, 2026, the impact for the current fiscal year would be $6,331 ($37,985*2/12). In 2027, the additional increase to the budget would be $31,654 plus any CPI adjustment in accordance with the bylaw.
These amounts do not include the resulting impact on the 5% annual acting pay calculation for all councillors willing to perform these duties.
COMMUNICATIONS/ENGAGEMENT:
Once Mayor and Council determine any changes to Council remuneration, the Senior Manager of Human Resources will update the Council Remuneration Bylaw and implement the changes to Council remuneration beginning November 1, 2026 for the new term of Council.
TIMELINES & NEXT STEPS:
• Council to determine changes to Council Remuneration
• Updates to the Council Remuneration Bylaw to be completed by Senior Manager of Human Resources
• Council to agree upon updates to the Council Remuneration Bylaw through first, second and third reading.
• Council Remuneration Bylaw to become effective November 1, 2026
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
1. Ian Irvine, Director of Finance, Reviewed
2. Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services, Reviewed
3. Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer, Concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
1. TOE Elected Official Remuneration Report June 2026
2. 3084 Council Remuneration Bylaw 2022
3. ADMIN-58 Independent Review Council Remuneration
4. ADMIN-62 Remuneration for Elected Officials