FILE PHOTO - Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland speaks to the Central Okanagan Regional District Board of Directors prior to the board voting to censure and sanction director Patty Hanson in December 2015.

(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - A tax change at the federal level means Kelowna city councillors who also serve on the regional district board will lose their tax exemption twice and will get to vote on a pay raise twice.

On Monday, May 28, Kelowna council voted on the recommendation of staff to raise their salaries to offset the end of the one/third tax exemption offered to elected officials all across Canada.

Kelowna also holds seven of 13 board positions on the Central Okanagan Regional District board which is also considering how to deal with the tax change which takes effect January 1, 2019.

Communications officer Bruce Smith said regional district staff are looking into what to do, noting that all local governments are considering the Canada Revenue Agency policy change. He did not provide details but said a staff recommendation will come before the board “at a future date."

In the most recent year for which numbers are available, regional district board members in 2016 received approximately $15,250 each, while board chair Gail Given received $39,362.

Given also received $33,000 as a Kelowna councillor. Her colleagues Mayor Colin Basran and councillors Maxine DeHart, Luke Stack, Brad Sieben and Tracy Gray all served as regional district board members.

In 2016, Coun. Charlie Hodge and Coun. Mohini Singh served as low-paid alternates while Coun. Ryan Donn did not serve on the regional district board. Hodge was named to the regional district board earlier this year.

While one/third of her regional district salary was tax free to cover nominal expenses, Given recorded an extra $2,520 in approved expenses in 2016. She also recorded $2,212 in additional expenses as a Kelowna councillor.

Other councillors also recorded additional approved expenses: Dehart ($2,607) Donn ($1,897) Gray ($2,358) Hodge ($4,456) Sieben ($2,710) and Stack ($2,577). None of them incured expenses as regional district board members.

Coun. Singh recorded no additional expenses in 2016. Mayor Basran recorded $12,654 in approved expenses in 2016 while collecting $91,578 salary. He recorded no expenses as a regional district board member.

Under the current tax regimen, mayor and councillors cannot submit expense claims for mileage and meals within the region, director of financial service Genelle Davidson said, and this will not change in 2019.

Expenses for work outside the region must be for matters approved by council, Davidson said, and will only be paid for expenses within policy limits and subject to submission of a receipt.

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