CITY 3
More pile driving predicted
401 - 612 FIFTH AVE $515,000 316 - 1150 QUAYSIDE DRIVE $619,000
OPINION 6
Overdose numbers alarming
604.761.4138
Tracey Davies
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13
‘F’ is for funny
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
Y O U R
H O M E T O W N
REALTOR®
There’s more online at
NewWestRecord.ca N E W S P A P E R
POLITICS
Trustees approve an 11-per-cent pay raise Raise will help offset federal ‘taxation hit’ Cayley Dobie
cdobie@newwestrecord.ca
Trustees have approved an 11-per-cent pay increase to help offset possible lost wages thanks to changes in the way elected officials’ remuneration is taxed. The tax changes were announced by the Government of Canada in 2017 and came into effect in Jan. 1, 2019. Before this year, only 67 per cent of an elected official’s remuneration, also called a stipend, was taxed, while the remainder was paid tax-free to recognize possible personal expenses. Now the government is taxing the entire stipend and allowing trustees to claim some expenses as deductions. At a school board meeting last month, some trustees said they were concerned about the possible impact the tax changes would have on their overall take-home pay. Trustee Maya Russell asked staff to return to the board table with information on what other school districts are doing in response to the tax changes. “We need to make the income whole and adjust for this taxation hit, because we’re not looking at an in-
crease; we’re looking at a significant decrease because of this taxation change,” she said at a January meeting. A staff report presented to trustees Tuesday night recommended the 11-percent increase and that this increase be a one-time adjustment, effective Jan. 1. The proposed increase, which would offset the impact on trustee stipend, would range from $154 to $185 per month, or $1,848 to $2,220 per year, but it does not take into account variable factors like a second income from a career, according to the report. The one-time increase will cost the district $17,699.Trustees’ pay will rise from $22,320 to $24,775, the vice-chair’s pay would increase from $23,876 to $26,502, and the chair’s pay would rise from $25,432 to $28,230. The increase was approved unanimously by all trustees present, including Russell, Gurveen Dhaliwal, Danielle Connelly, Mark Gifford, Dee Beattie and Anita Ansari.Trustee Mary Lalji was not present. About 15 other school boards in B.C. have approved some type of pay adjustment to offset the tax change.
SUIT UP! New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote (left) discusses costume ideas with Rish Koya – aka Mr. India – as they prepare to be tagteam partners for the upcoming Royal City Rumble event. Read the story on page 11. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
The Only Co-ed and Ladies Only Fitness in New West
Order Take-Out. Call 310-SPOT (7768) or order online at www.whitespot.ca
PEDICURE $28
10 DAYS for
1000
$
WITH THIS AD
FIRST TIME VISITORS ONLY. Must be 18 years or older.
in Located t New Wes ation St in Skytra
ACRYLIC NEW SET
$
ACRYLIC NAIL FILL
$
COLOUR GEL INCLUDED
COLOUR GEL INCLUDED
COMMITTED TO FITNESS, COMMITTED TO YOU!
#335 - 800 CARNARVON ST NEW WESTMINSTER
604-521-TRIM • www.dynamichealthandfitness.ca
2 H ou rs FREE Parkin g
Ask about our “ONE ON ONE PERSONAL TRAINING SPECIAL”
48
40
[new auto clave sanitizer] Expires March 7th, 2019 Not valid with other special offers. With Ad.
604-521-1453 | crystalnails.ca Columbia Square #101-78 Tenth St., New Westminster