LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County councillors have voted – but not unanimously - to give themselves a pay raise to help offset rising fuel costs.
Retroactive to July 25, mileage reimbursements for county councillors will be raised by nearly 20 percent from 52 cents per kilometre to 62 cents per kilometre. As part of this increase, Ward 7 councillors John Mondal and Lorin Tkachuk, who reside in the hamlet of Lac La Biche, will see their travel allowances to in-town meetings go from a flat rate of $5 to $6.55. The new rate is in effect for all municipal staff using their vehicles for approved travel.
A report prepared by municipal administrators at the request of council shows that the rise in mileage reimbursements will put Lac La Biche County staff in line with other municipalities across the province. Presently, notes the report, the going rate for mileage in Alberta is 68 cents per kilometre.
Each year, municipal officials include a line in the budget process for mileage, and most years that budget figure is not reached, notes the report. The 2023 budget for staff and council mileage is $85,659. To date, only $44,156 in expenses have been claimed for travel purposes. The increased rates for councillors is expected to add about $8,000 to that budget line this year.
Voting against the increase were councillors Jason Stedman and John Mondal. Stedman said the increase is unnecessary.
“Council is compensated fairly enough already,” he said.
Though she voted in favor of the increase, councillor Darlene Beniuk emphasized the need for more clarity regarding mileage claims.
“Some councillors charge for mileage while others don’t,” she said. “Everyone must be on the same page. This policy needs to be written in stone.”
Lac La Biche County mayor Paul Reutov said the raise in mileage reimbursements is necessary to put the county on par with other jurisdictions across the province.
“Even with this increase, we are still only on par or even below some municipalities who charge the standard 68 cents per kilometer,” Reutov told Lakeland This Week. “This policy has not been updated in over a decade and with rising fuel costs, the change is crucial.”
In the most recent expense claims approved by council, the mayor logged more than 2,700 kilometres in the month of June on County business. Two other councillors in the month of June claimed more than 1,000 kilometres of county travel, with councillor Kevin Pare travelling 1,710 kilometres, including to five golf tournaments, and councillor Sterling Johnson tallying 1072 kilometres.
With the new rates, each 100 kilometres of travel allows an additional $10 in mileage that can be claimed.
