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June 28, 2016 - 5:00 PM
WEST KELOWNA - The so-called sunshine list for the City of West Kelowna was released this week.
The list contains the names, salaries and expenses of every West Kelowna employee who made $75,000 or more in 2015.
It also includes remuneration for Mayor Doug Findlater, who took home more than $66,000 for his job as civic leader. Councillors were paid roughly $22,500 for their services.
Mayor and council were also reimbursed a total of more than $25,000 in expenses. Coun. Carol Zanon was the leader when it came to expenses and was reimbursed $6,700 in 2015.
A total of 24 management employees made the list last year, one more than 2014, accounting manager Joel Kern says in a report to West Kelowna council. Total pay and expenses increased $296,000.
Two additional West Kelowna Fire Rescue firefighters made the list last year, for a total of 31. Their total compensation increased by $940,000 in 2015 and is partially related to retroactive pay from the labour contract signed last year.
The number of unionized workers on the list jumped to 23 last year, from 14 in 2014. The increase in pay and benefits totalled $753,000 in 2015.
To no surprise, the top paid employee with the City of West Kelowna is chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino, who was paid more than $197,000 last year plus nearly $5,500 in expenses.
The next highest paid employees were manager of protective services Tracey Batten (more than $161,000 plus roughly $7,000 in expenses) and manager of engineering and public works Allen Fillion (roughly $156,000 plus more than $2,200 in expenses).
Complete details of the sunshine list and other information concerning civic operations can be found in the annual report. All B.C. municipalities are required by law to release annual wage and expense reports.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016