Who ever claims Vernon’s mayor chair in November’s election will get an immediate raise.

Current council endorsed several recommendations from a citizen’s committee on remuneration Monday. The policies come into affect for the council elected Nov. 19.

The mayor’s salary will go from $63,466 to $66,266 in 2012 (one-third is a tax-free allowance

“I see the work the mayor does and the abuse he takes,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy.

“He’s like the chairman of the board and he deserves more.”

There will be no increase for the mayor in 2013, and for 2014, there will be a hike equivalent to the compound sum of the consumer price index over the previous four years (if CPI is two per cent each year, that would lead to an 8.2 per cent increase in salary).

For councillors, the current annual salary of $20,473 (one-third tax-free) will remain unchanged in 2012 and 2013 but there would be an increase equivalent to the compounded sum of CPI over four years in 2014.

Council members are currently paid $137 for attending committee meetings and that will increase to $320 for full-day meetings and to $160 for meetings four hours or less in length.

The only opposition to the recommendations came from Coun. Bob Spiers while Coun. Patrick Nicol was absent.

For more details, see Wednesday’s Morning Star.