Maple Ridge city council is considering a raise for the next group of elected officials, who will be voted into office in the upcoming local elections, on Oct. 17 this year.
In 2025, the mayor’s salary was $142,000 per year plus a $7,000 per year car allowance.
Councillors received $57,000 per year plus a $2,400 car allowance.
City staff told councillors last month they are lagging behind other comparable cities. They did a “quick scan” of 17 comparable municipalities including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kamloops, and Nanaimo. Maple Ridge aims salaries for non-union staff at the 65th percentile, and that would mean raising compensation to $156,000 for mayor and $61,000 for councillors.
The median compensation of those 17 municipalities is $151,000 for mayor, and $58,000 for councillors, noted the staff report.
City staff recommended the city hire an arms-length consultant to recommend a pay increase.
Councillors chose not to, because of the estimated $25,000 to $30,000 cost, and instead charged staff with bringing back an “ad hoc” review.
“Do I want to got out and pay a consulting company $25,000 to tells us what we likely could find just from doing a Google search? I don’t think we need to do that,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy.
Staff is to report back before the next meeting on April 14.
The current council has its pay increased by consumer price index adjustments, which amounted to 2.6 per cent in 2025, 4.3 per cent in 2024, and 6.8 per cent in 2023.
“While annual CPI adjustments have maintained inflationary alignment, council remuneration has not undergone a comprehensive market re-calibration since 2011. CPI adjustments maintain inflation alignment year-over-year, but do not re-establish market positioning relative to comparable municipalities,” said the staff report.
Coun. Korleen Carreras said it’s good policy to increase pay for the next council, rather than during a council term.
Coun. Jenny Tan described is a sensitive topic for councillors.
“Unfortunately we’re in this position where we have to govern ourselves,” Tan said. “It’s a very awkward one to ask people to set their own salaries.”
She said the work “involves hours and hours of reading and research, a lot of hair pulling, a lot of talking to stakeholders, and that work is the bulk of our time.”
Tan also said it’s a “tall order” to do the serious work of councillor, while maintaining a full-time job.
“It’s a 20-35 hour if not more, per week role, and we have all experienced that.”
Veteran councillor Judy Dueck said the pay was meant to cover a councillor’s lost income.
“We are elected officials to serve our community. It was way back in the day when remuneration was even entertained, it was to ensure that people felt they could run for office without losing money from their careers – because it was expected you would have to take some time away from your career in order to hold this position,” said Dueck, who feels her compensation is fair.
“A lot of it is out of passion, it’s not just about the money,” she added.
Coun. Sunny Schiller favours the status quo, with cost of living increases.
“We’re not wildly out of sync with other communities, and there are increases included that make this a reasonable level for me,” said Schiller.
Coun. Onyeka Dozie said councillors can’t make a living at the job.
“This is totally a sacrifice one makes for a community to which you belong,” he said. “A sacrifice you make for your people to see better days.”