The city of Coquitlam has 93 employees earning more than $100,000 a year, almost double the number who were over that threshold when the global recession hit in 2008.
According to the 2011 Statement of Financial Information, which the city released at Monday's council meeting, taxpayers shelled out $73 million last year in civic salaries - up $10 million from four years ago - including more than $650,000 in council remuneration and expenses.
The document shows Mayor Richard Stewart taking the highest council wage at $123,696 plus $13,364 in expenses last year.
Councillors earned their base rate of $53,836 but their billings varied. Former councillor Barrie Lynch, who was on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' board, charged the city $20,776 in expenses for his 11 months last year while Coun. Linda Reimer expensed $13,564 - nearly the same as the mayor.
Newly elected councillors Craig Hodge and Terry O'Neill each billed about $600 for their month or so on council last year.
As for city staff, city manager Peter Steblin received $237,585 plus $7,239 in expenses and deputy city manager John DuMont was paid $212,440 plus $2,233 in expenses. Other top earners for 2011 were:
GM engineering, public works Bill Susak: $186,869;
GM parks, recreation, culture Lori MacKay: $186,168;
GM strategic initiatives Maurice Gravelle: $186,039;
GM planning and development Jim McIntyre: $184,840;
Financial services manager Sheena MacLeod: $172,406;
Fire Chief Tony Delmonico: $169,585;
Deputy Fire Chief Tom Boechler (now retired): $163,631;
Human resources manager Ron Price: $156,447.
The disclosures came the same night the city unveiled its annual report, in which financial services manager Sheena MacLeod described last year as being one of the best on record for the municipality.
"We are in pretty nice financial shape," she said, noting the city accumulated a $43 million surplus, one third of which is tucked away for emergency purposes. The increased revenues can largely be attributed to the rise in construction values - up 45% over 2010 figures, she said.
Still, Coquitlam carries some $30 million in debt (down $4 million from 2010) to pay for infrastructure works, the remodelled Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre, and the new City Centre library branch, which is to open this fall. MacLeod anticipated the load would be paid off in about four years using funds that include casino-hosting income that last year amounted to $5.3 million.
