Today is a very important day in local government.
It is a day when ratepayers have a chance to talk face-to-face with elected officials, question them about their decisions, gather information, seek clarification, give praise, perhaps, or criticize.
The Town of Barrhead’s annual general meeting is a chance to be involved in democracy and air concerns on any topic. It starts at 6.45 p.m. in the town council chambers.
Although the agenda is open, the meeting will review the town’s 2011 financial statements.
Always of great interest are the salaries and benefits of elected officials, the Chief Administration Officer and designated officers. The law requires full disclosure.
A quick glance on Page 12 will reveal that mayor Brian Schulz’s 2011 salary was $28,188. Add to that benefits and allowance and the figure climbs to $35,030, compared to $33,728 for 2010.
The salary, benefits and allowance for the six councillors are: Ty Assaf, $17,449; David McKenzie, $16,229; Shelley Oswald, $17,847; Don Smith, $17,464; Roy Ulmer, $18,217; and Madelaine Wessel, $10,281.
Some people may raise questions about the earnings of the municipal manager and a figure of $211,875. How is this number arrived at? What does the manager’s job entail?
Then there are designated officers and a figure of $200,700. To a layman these figures may seem very high. Who are these officers? What do they do?
At the bottom of the page it says salary includes regular base pay, lump sum payments and any other direct cash remuneration for meeting per diems; benefits and allowances includes amounts paid for employer’s share of all employee benefits and amounts paid for travel and subsistence while conducting town business.
The statements also cover such areas as financial assets, liabilities, accumulated surplus, revenues and expenditures.
One pages deals with taxation: property taxes, government grants in lieu of property taxes, special assessment and local improvement taxes. A local authorities pension plan is another issue.
The statements contain a blizzard of numbers that can be confusing, so tonight will be an opportunity to get an explanation of what they mean in layman’s terms.
Copies of the 2011 financial statements will be available at the AGM. Or they can be picked up at the town office at 5014-50 Avenue.
They can also be viewed at the town council’s website (www.barrhead.ca). Click on “town hall” on the top panel of the home page, and then click on financial statements.
Outside the financial statements, residents might wish to focus on other hot-button topics like water rates, which have rocketed recently as plans move ahead for a new treatment plant.
Other issues could be proposals for a new swimming pool on the site of the town’s only major baseball diamond, recreational facilities, the state of roads, the condition of parks and cemeteries, emergency services, and Barrhead’s preparations for the 2013 summer 55-plus summer games.
There are so many issues affecting everybody’s lives and the future of the town, and each one represents a good reason to turn up to tonight’s meeting.
Hopefully, the weather won’t prove a deterrent.
