City councillors can claim $1K more in expenses

City councillors plan to allow themselves more money to cover their expenses, starting next year, to make up for the loss of a tax break they currently enjoy.

Starting in 2019, elected officials will no longer receive a tax break on one-third of their pay — they will have to pay income tax on their full salaries.

That means councillors will have to start keeping receipts so they can deduct expenses on their income tax — which may or may not equal the one-third tax exemption they’re getting now.

Coun. Dean Pappas said on Monday he’s disappointed that the federal government is cutting out this tax exemption — particularly when council has mentioned this to Status of Women Minister and Peterborough-Kawartha Maryam Monsef, who said she would advocate for municipal councillors in Ottawa.

“She hasn’t gotten back to us,” Pappas said.

In the meantime, councillors approved a staff recommendation that they allow themselves an extra $1,000 a year to cover their expenses.

Right now councillors get $1,000 a year for expenses, plus another $500 to cover the cost of running ward meetings, for a

yearly total of $1,500.

The plan is that councillors will get $2,500 instead, which would cost the city $10,000 more in 2019.

The idea is to “somewhat offset” councillors’ expenses through “direct reimbursement,” the city staff report explains.

The mayor currently earns $69,612 annually in Peterborough, while city councillors earn $28,503.

Councillors also reviewed other city staff reports on Monday outlining changes in legislation that will soon affect municipal elections and policies for elected officials. For example:

• Code of conduct for council

City council will have to adopt a code of conduct for itself soon.

Ontario’s Municipal Act is being updated, and it now says that all councils need a code of conduct as of March 1, 2019.

Previously, codes of conduct were optional for councils. Peterborough city council considered adopting one in 2016, but rejected the idea.

Coun. Gary Baldwin had championed the plan to have a code of conduct for council two years ago — but only Coun. Diane Therrien and Coun. Henry Clarke agreed to it.

• 2018 election spending limits

The preliminary figures on election spending limits for the October municipal election in Peterborough have been calculated.

Mayoral candidates won’t be able to exceed $55,842 in campaign spending.

For council seats, the lowest campaign spending limit is in Town Ward, where it is $12,199.

The highest campaign limit is in Monaghan Ward, where it is $18,050 (self-contribution limit is $3,070).

Municipal campaign spending limits are based on the number of eligible electors.