The Editor,
Re. “Trustees are not in same work category as city councillors” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Feb. 7), “How do we know trustees worth pay?” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Feb. 14) and “Tri-Cities’ trustees have top pay in B.C.” (front page, The Tri-City News, Feb. 14).
In his letter Dave Ginter, president of CUPE Local 56 stated: “Both Trustee Watkins and Port Coquitlam Trustee Michael Thomas should provide any type of information that puts them in the same category as city councillors.”
Another letter writer, Deb Losier of Port Coquitlam, suggested School District 43 trustees need to hand in a timesheet with details of what work they do and how many hours they spend doing it.
And reporter Diane Strandberg of The Tri-City News informed readers: “School District 43 trustees will continue to be the highest paid school board politicians in B.C. But the elimination of a tax emption on 30% of the indemnity as a result of new federal tax rules will result in a net increase of about 2% according to school board officials. The higher salary is due to hikes Tri-City councillors made in their pay so they wouldn’t be penalized by the loss of the 30% tax exemption.”
I wonder how many taxpayers have a 30% tax-free income.
What about the shameful free trips to China?
How many retirees have a pension increase of 2%?
If School District 43’s trustees believe they are not paid enough, they should resign and find work that pays them better. It is as simple as that.
Marta Posilovic, Coquitlam
