Chilliwack mayor, councillors receive nearly 4% remuneration boost in 2024

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CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack city councillors received just under a four per cent increase in their remuneration in 2024 compared to the previous year, meaning their base compensation now exceeds $50,000.

According to the Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses for Elected Officials document attached to this Tuesday’s city council meeting, Chilliwack city councillors received a base bylaw remuneration of $51,275.26, an increase of 3.9 per cent over their 2023 base rate of $49,350 for their time, committee work and attendance at public functions, among other things.

Based on their 2024 salaries, Chilliwack city councillors earn roughly double that of Chilliwack school board trustees, whose base salary as of June 30, 2024, was $24,846.96 up to a high of $28,128 for the chair, plus expenses.

City councillors had a base bylaw remuneration of $46,165.19 in 2022 and $43,898.67 in 2021.

Mayor Ken Popove’s 2024 salary totaled $139,807.42, a 3.9 per cent increase over 2023. Popove garnered a base bylaw remuneration of $125,874.27 in 2022 and $122,181 in 2021.

As far as additional remuneration and expenses are concerned, Councillor Jason Lum received the highest of the six councillors. Other remuneration is defined as payments for acting and alternate acting mayor, payment in lieu of benefits, as well as taxable benefits; his other remuneration was $5,411.14. Lum also received $1,955.86 in expense reimbursements, giving him a total remuneration exceeding $58,000.

Mayor Popove and Councillors Lum, Bud Mercer, Harv Westeringh, and Jeff Shields did not receive any listed mileage reimbursement.

Councillor Mercer had the highest expenses of all seven elected officials at $4,579.59, meaning he likely traveled on behalf of the City of Chilliwack to the most events or met with personnel from other branches of government most frequently.