Kelowna City Hall will undergo renovations next year to increase staff space.

(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - The roster of Kelowna City Hall employees who have made more than $75,000 has grown again.

All B.C. municipalities must release the names and salaries of municipal employees who made more than $75,000 in the previous year, by the end of June.

For 2018, the City of Kelowna’s list had 407 names, compared to 380 in 2017. A decade ago, in 2008, 153 city employees made more than $75,000.

Topping that list is the deputy city manager Joe Creron who in 2018 took home $231,000.

City manager Doug Gilchrist earned $221,000, followed by Alan Newcombe, infrastructure director who made $186,000.

Airport director Sam Samaddar made $176,000.

Active living director Jim Gabriel made $173,000 and corporate strategic services director Carla Weaden took home $171,000.

Infrastructure engineer Ron Westlake made $168,000 and human resources director Stuart Leatherdale made $167,000.

Fire chief Travis Whiting made $166,000 and finance director Genelle Davidson made $165,000

Total remuneration for all city employees in 2018 was $74 million, up from $71 million in 2017.

“This increase can be attributed as two per cent due to wage and salary increases and the balance is due to required staff increases to continue to provide the existing level of service to a growing city,” reads the report to council.

The report also makes the case for paying more to get more.

"The city provides hundreds of services that require a wide variety of degrees and specialized qualifications," reads the report.

“It competes with the public and private sector to recruit and retain employees who are qualified to fill these positions."

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