There will be no increase in pay for Belleville council members and the mayor.
At its meeting on Monday afternoon, council voted against giving themselves a pay increase in a 7-2 recorded vote.
A by-law would have seen the mayor’s 2026 salary be $118,460, up about $2000 from last year.
Councillors would have seen their pay rise to $41,618, up about $700.
Both the mayor and councillors’ salaries increased by 1.8 per cent, the same amount given to city employees in the Administrative Employee Group.
Councillor Paul Carr called for a recorded vote on the by-law, saying that council had already asked residents to sacrifice by paying more in a tax increase, referencing the police budget and the fire master plan.
He said he didn’t feel comfortable taking more for himself, even if the increase is marginal.
“At the end of the day, this isn’t about pay. This is about public service, and I think it’s important if we’re going to ask the residents to sacrifice, then I feel that I should be doing the same,” Councillor Carr told council.
Councillor Garnet Thomson said he would be voting for the pay increase, questioning concerns about whether or not Belleville councillors are worth more than $41,000 to represent the City of Belleville.
Councillor Sean Kelly added that if you add the $700 increase to councillors’ salaries for the year, that would be approximately $13.46 a week increase.
“When I look at the amount of fuel that I use travelling in and around the city and other events outside the city, representing Belleville, I don’t put in for mileage and there’s cost of clothing and the cost of this, this, this, so might be a bit selfish, but I look around and I see the rest of us here. I think we’re worth $13.46 more a week,” Councillor Kelly said.
Councillor Kelly Henderson echoed sentiments from Councillor Carr regarding the increase, while Mayor Neil Ellis said he had mixed feelings about the by-law, explaining that in the past the city had to hire consultants to “fix” council pay after years with no increases.
Councillor Thomson reiterated that councillors should be paid more.
“I’m going to be very blunt here, salaries that councillors earn in the city of Belleville is not enough, period,” he said.
“Salaries should be much higher for councillors in the City of Belleville, and I’ve expressed that to a number of people. So this 1.8% (increase), I think we should be much higher to start with.”
Those voting against the by-law calling for the pay increase included councillors Kathryn Brown, Paul Carr, Lisa Anne Chatten, Barbara Enright-Miller, Kelly Henderson, Margaret Seu and Mayor Neil Ellis.
Councillors voting in favour of the pay increase included councillors Garnet Thomson and Sean Kelly.
