Mayor Lois Jackson chalked up just over $134,857 in total pay, benefits and expenses as Delta's mayor and head of the police board last year.
The municipality this week made public council's 2011 remuneration and expense report, an annual requirement showing the elected politicians' remuneration (including expense allowances), taxable benefits and expenses.
The report noted that the mayor's pay last year stood at $103,032, while her car allowance was $14,328. She had $3,281 in benefits and $14,217 combined when it came to mayoralty and police board expenses.
Meantime, councillors made just over $45,700 last year, with the exception of Sylvia Bishop and Jeannie Kanakos, who were newcomers elected last year and earned just over $2,500.
The returning councillors all had almost $8,000 in a car allowance in 2011. As far as benefits, Bruce McDonald collected the least at $2,075, while Heather King, who left her council seat to run for mayor, listed the most at almost $6,800.
When it comes to expenses, Robert Campbell had the least at $3,586, while Ian Paton racked up the most at $8,847. Paton told the Optimist the reason why he had the most was due to expenses incurred while on a lobbying trip to Ottawa last fall.
The civic politicians this year voted to give themselves another salary increase, but also to undertake an analysis of how other communities determine their council stipends.
The motion for a study was brought forward by Bishop, who said that while Delta has a seemingly fair calculation based on the average of similar communities, it's always a good idea every few years to see what new formulas might be in practice elsewhere.
The Delta salaries are based on the average of four Lower Mainland municipalities with similar populations - Coquitlam, Richmond, Township of Langley and District of North Vancouver.
The current Delta remuneration rate had fallen below the average, so the raise was brought forward.
A report from staff noted Delta is the largest municipality in the province that continues to employ a mayor and six councillors, while it's normal practice for municipalities with populations over 50,000 to have eight councillors
Langley Township's mayor and council this year also gave themselves pay raises, but agreed to put together a task force to review their formula. That community also uses a formula comparing itself to other municipalities, and some of them in turn do likewise.
