RDOS director Elef Christesen racks up the most expenses
While representing just 2,236 constituents, the elected official for rural Keremeos and Hedley managed to rack up expenses totalling $10,826 in 2016, making him the most expensive director on the board of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen.
Elef Christesen’s tab worked out to $4.84 for each person in Area G, according to the annual statement of financial information presented Thursday to the board of the RDOS. He also pulled in a salary of $26,822.
The two-term director cited travel costs arising from visits to constituents and twice-monthly 150-kilometre round trips to board meetings in Penticton as the primary driver of his expenses.
Christensen described it as money well-spent on good governance.
“I would think so,” he said. “I don’t get anything out of it.”
RDOS staff said Thursday a freedom of information request will be required to get copies of Christensen’s expense claims.
However, a rough breakdown provided by the RDOS shows he was reimbursed $2,514 for mileage, plus billed $2,768 for a Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver, $2,647 for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Winnipeg, $1,556 for a Local Government Leadership Academy event in Vancouver and $1,232 to attend the Southern Interior Local Government Association convention in Kelowna.
Christensen booked expenses of $11,017 in 2015, and explained he travels to conventions to seek grant money for his community from senior levels of government. “Why else would you want to go?” he said. Christensen, who during his pervious term of 2008-11 paid himself $1,900 to manage a three-year upgrade of Hedley’s outdoor rink and another $755 for labour on the project, was the only RDOS director in 2016 who filed a five-digit expense claim.
Next on the list was Area E (Naramata) director Karla Kozakevich, who was reimbursed $7,750, followed by Area A (rural Osoyoos) director Mark Pendergraft, who served as chairman for 11 months of the year and claimed expenses of $7,188.
Princeton Mayor Frank Armitage and rural Princeton representative Bob Coyne, the only RDOS directors who have longer drives to board meetings than Christensen, claimed $2,974 and $4,612, respectively.
Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit took home a salary of $19,183 from the RDOS while accumulating $401 in expenses. (The city’s SOFI report is due out later this month.)
He served as vice-chairman for 11 months of the term but was not re-elected to that position last November.
I don’t get anything out of it. Elef Christesen
Penticton’s other RDOS directors are Coun. Judy Sentes, who earned $13,060, Coun. Andre Martin, who collected $13,226, and Coun. Helena Konanz who made $13,656. None of them claimed expenses.
All told, the 18-member board of directors cost taxpayers $419,960, plus expenses of $57,773.
Directors are paid a combination of a base salary, plus honorariums for attending meetings. The chairperson and vice-chairperson also get special top-ups.