Hanover Councillors are getting a raise in pay.
It comes in the form of a one time lump sum adjustment this year — followed by a two per cent increase in 2012 and another two per cent increase in 2013.
The raise was the recommendation of an independent citizens group that was charged with the task of comparing Hanover salaries to that of 20 other similar municipalities.
CAO Mike Dunlop says they found Hanover Council salaries are below average.
This year’s lump sum adjustment totals almost 11 thousand dollars.
The Mayor gets an extra 37 hundred dollars, the Deputy Mayor gets 25 hundred and the other five Councillors get another 900 dollars.
The two per cent increases will than follow in both 2012 and 2013.
Dunlop says their salaries will catch up to other municipalities by 2013.
He feels it’s important to keep the salaries fair since their members do not get into politics for the money in the first place.
As of this year’s adjustment — Mayor Kathi Maskell will now earn 24 thousand dollars a year, the Deputy Mayor 16 thousand and Councillors 12 thousand dollars each.
Council salaries will come under review again in three years time.
