On January 1st, Moncton’s mayor and council received pay increases of between 20 and 35 percent.
But when council reached that decision in November, three councillors Bryan Butler, Paul Pellerin and Shawn Crossman voted against it.
The same three also voted against the 2017 budget.
In a year-end interview, Mayor Dawn Arnold was asked if city council is now divided.
“I think if you look back at any council, anywhere, you will see that not everybody agrees with everything and I think that is healthy for democracy,” she notes.
Arnold adds better decision are made when you have a diversity of voices around the council table.
Moncton city councillors now earn $33,494.53, up from $24,789.72.
The deputy mayor, currently Blair Lawrence, now earns $37,244.53, up from $28,539.72.
Mayor Dawn Arnold now has an annual salary of $83,736.33, up about $14,000.
As a member of the previous city council, Arnold voted against a salary increase but voted in favour of a hike as mayor.
