The Editors,
No wonder the politicians are smiling. The Tri-Cities’ three mayors’ combined salaries are in excess of $300,000, not including the tens of thousands they earn as Metro Vancouver board members. Three city managers make more than $600,000 combined; three fire chiefs over $400,000. The three municipalities have a combined population of roughly 227,000.
Compare the numbers to those in Surrey, which that has more than double the population: The mayor made $132,000 last year, the city manager $323,000 and the fire chief $234,000.
The difference is a whopping $811,000.
Now, I know we have our police force, lakes and a better quality of life. But is it really worth paying hundreds of thousands more?
I buy groceries in Coquitlam, I walk and hike in Port Moody, and I shop and use services in Port Coquitlam. I live, shop and play in the Tri-Cities. The cities are effectively merged.
Is it not time taxpayers consider merging these three cities?
The savings would be enormous. I can guarantee you one thing: The employees and politicians of these bureaucracies will not be in favour so the citizens must elect individuals who put us first, not their vested interests.
Russ Alfreds, Port Moody
