WATERLOO REGION - It cost taxpayers $2,750,870 to pay the public salaries and benefits of municipal politicians in Waterloo Region in 2015.

That amount includes the municipal salaries of all members of township, city and regional councils, but doesn't include any other income they may collect from other jobs or pensions.

The local politician pulling in the biggest salary is regional Chair Ken Seiling, who earned a total of $184,950 in salaries and benefits for his role as chair of the largest municipality, and for serving as a member of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board.

Seiling is the top elected official in the region, representing a population of about 570,000 people, and responsible for an annual tax-supported budget of $471 million.

Although Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic oversees a much smaller municipality, with a population of 236,500 and a budget of about $165 million, his income wasn't much behind Seiling's. Vrbanovic is the highest paid of the local mayors. The combined salary and benefits for his job as mayor, as a member of regional council, and the stipends he collects for sitting on the boards of Kitchener Power Inc. and Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro added up to $156,543.

But unlike Seiling, one-third of his mayoral salary isn't taxed. That tax exemption means his income was the equivalent of a fully taxed salary of $164,843.

Both Vrbanovic and Jaworsky have the use of a leased car as part of their benefits package.

"All I can say is the job of mayor is a job that's 24/7, 365 days a year," said Vrbanovic, adding that even when he does take time off for a vacation, he invariably gets calls and emails. "There's always been issues that happen, whether media inquiries, or community issues or whatever."

He noted that Kitchener council salaries are regularly reviewed by a citizens committee that compares salaries paid in other Ontario cities.

The region is the only one of the eight municipal councils in Waterloo Region that fully taxes its council salaries. All municipal council salaries in Ontario used to be one-third tax-free, to help cover the expenses that went along with holding a public office. But because most municipalities now cover any incurred expenses, the province changed the rules in 2003, allowing municipalities to get rid of the tax-free provision and make council salaries more comparable to most other salaries. Councils must vote every term to continue the tax-free exemption.

The region opted to eliminate the tax-fee exemption in 2004, "to make the salaries of Region of Waterloo elected officials absolutely clear to the public," it said.

Kitchener has opted to stick with the tax-free exemption because it would cost about $78,000 more a year to top up council salaries and retain the same take-home pay, Vrbanovic explained. "Why would we put that burden on local taxpayers if we don't need to?" he said.

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While some elected officials may feel uncomfortable that their salaries are up for public scrutiny, Vrbanovic said he believes it serves an important role. "There's a degree of accountability and transparency that I think is important for the system," he said. "I feel very strongly about that."

Some top municipal salaries

Regional Chair Ken Seiling: $184,950

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic: $164,843

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig: $146,224

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky: $162,096

Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz: $104,702

Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong: $89,021

Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak: $89,946

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton: $93,932

Kitchener councillors: $52,044-$57,727, depending on benefits

Regional councillors: $57,493

Regional salaries are fully taxable. Other salaries are calculated as if they were fully taxable. Mayors' salaries include salaries and benefits from regional council, and stipends from public boards such as the Grand River Conservation Authority, police board or hydro board.

