Councillors agree to take another look at hike to office budgets

$40K increases to be discussed during operating budget deliberations

Hamilton councillors will discuss a $40,000 hike to each of their office budgets in 2023 during overall city spending talks next year.

“I think this is good governance. This is the right way to go about it,” Coun. John-Paul Danko said Wednesday.

Last week, Coun. Cameron Kroetsch’s pitch to level budgets at $375,000 across all 15 wards, making for a roughly $1.3-million increase over 2022 overall, failed on a split vote.

Kroetsch said the increase would enable councillors to provide better service to residents, while helping them hire and retain qualified staff.

On Wednesday, the Ward 2 councillor’s second swing at an increase — this time featuring the $40,000 bump for each and the redirection to 2023 budget deliberations — won unanimous favour.

Coun. Tom Jackson joked that he experienced a “minor angina attack” when he heard about Kroetsch’s original motion, but heaped praise on this week’s “compromise” focused on budget talks.

Language in the amended motion also makes it “crystal clear” that the “modest” increase won’t go toward councillor salary hikes, Jackson added.

Meanwhile, the east Mountain veteran noted, his two office staffers are “maxed out” responding to ward business.

Likewise, Danko said his staff face an increasingly onerous workload of constituent inquiries, ranging from pot holes to noise complaints, that seem to have multiplied during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It can be a significant pressure on councillors’ offices,” said Danko, who was re-elected in the west Mountain this past October.

Coun. Nrinder Nann noted offices also face an expanded array of expected ways to respond to residents including social media and virtual meetings.

“That is a cost that does take a toll,” the second-term Ward 3 councillor said.

Constituents have called for better responses from their representative and prompt explanations of the rationale behind policy decisions, Coun. Craig Cassar said.

“From what I heard, that was not happening,” said the new Ancaster councillor, calling the office increases an “investment in our community.”

Ahead of operating budget talks, finance staff have forecasted a 6.9 per cent hike for 2023.