The city’s treasurer, as required by the Municipal Act, tabled a report at this week’s virtual council committee meeting outlining how much city councillors were paid in 2019, how much they claimed for expenses and how much was paid out to those who serve on civic boards and committees.
In 2019, $399,927 was paid to city politicians. Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke earned $84,599, while each of the city’s eight ward councillors earned $39,421.
In terms of expenses, almost $10,400 was doled out to city politicians.
Two councillors - Pat Hehn and Tim Lauer - did not file any expenses.
Coun. Mason Ainsworth was paid the most in expenses - $3,268. All but $152 of that was related to travel to, and expenses related to, attendance at the annual Ontario Small Urban Municipalities (OSUM) and Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conferences.
Coun. Rob Kloostra was second highest, claiming $2,122 - all related to attending the AMO conference.
Coun. David Campbell was third highest at $2,113; all but $178 was related to the AMO conference he attended.
Coun. Ted Emond claimed $1,051 in expenses - all related to the OSUM conference.
Coin. Jay Fallis accumulated $484 in expenses related to AMO training courses.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla claimed $122 in expenses.
Clarke’s expenses amounted to $1,231 for mileage in addition to ‘travel and out of pocket’ expenses related to meetings.
The total remuneration paid out to members of boards and committees in 2019 was $25,563.81.
