The Editor,
Re. “$35k and $8,400 raises for Coq. council” and “An $18k bump for mayor, $4,100 for councillors in Port Moody” (The Tri-City News, Dec. 5).
The mayors and councils of Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam should be ashamed of themselves. They have voted to have their citizens pay their income tax for them starting Jan. 1 when the federal government stops allowing them a third of their income, tax free.
Years ago, the tax-free allowance made sense when pay for municipal politicians was much lower than it is now and they needed it to cover out-of-pocket expenses. But with more than adequate compensation now — Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart makes almost $140,000 now and will likely top $170,000 with proposed increases, for example — and with generous expense accounts, they are no longer entitled to this benefit and the federal government, as it should, has stopped it.
Municipal politicians know they do not deserve this. Mayor Stewart calls the move “a tax grab by the feds” but feels free to wreak his own tax grab on Coquitlam residents.
All three mayors and councils say the same thing and offer the same feeble excuse that it’s OK “because our pay is not going up.” But our pay — yours and mine — is going down because now we are lumbered with having to pay their income tax as well as our own.
One honourable woman, Coquitlam Coun. Bonita Zarrillo, on principle voted against the move, saying, “It’s important to me that I pay my taxes, just like any other person.” Good for you, Coun. Zarrillo.
There are consequences to this. If you have self- serving, unprincipled municipal politicians, it is easier to water the lawn when you shouldn’t, throw the wrong thing in the recycling bin, litter, not shovel the ice off the sidewalk, not pick up your dog’s leavings.
But worse, you start to believe that apart from one or two like Coun. Zarrillo, most of them are greedy blowhards in it entirely for themselves, and are not to be trusted.
Civic leadership starts at the top. Don’t hold your breath waiting for these guys.
Peter Manning,
Port Coquitlam
