In 2015 the Regional District of Central Kootenay paid salaries of more than $100,000 to each of seven of its senior staff members, $765,000 in salaries and benefits to its directors, and just under $1.6 million for transit.
Those are three examples of the information contained in the regional district’s statement of financial information for 2015. All municipalities, regional districts, and other public bodies are required by law to publish this report annually. The report, and charts summarizing some of the largest expenditures, can be found in the online version of this story at nelsonstar.com.
The report includes financial statements, a list of director and staff salaries, and a list of all payments made for goods and services over $25,000. The full report is atta
ched below.
The regional district paid more than $300,000 to each of 10 vendors and suppliers in 2015. The report contains a full list of about 135 vendors from whom the RDCK made purchases over $25,000.
The consolidated statement of financial position shows an accumulated surplus (which includes financial assets, non-financial assets and liabilities) of $87,645,827. It shows revenue for 2015 of $40,884,000 and expenses of $38,365,480 for the same period.
The report lists grants over $25,000 from the regional district to 42 organizations and municipalities. The largest grant was to the City of Castlegar, amounting to $590,000.
The 11 rural directors each earned a base allowance of $32,904 while the nine municipal directors each received $12,756 in addition to the salary they earn from sitting on their respective councils.
Chair Karen Hamling receives an extra $31,296 allowance and vice-chair Lawrence Chernoff another $6,204 on top of their director stipends.
The total director salaries and expenses in 2015 was $758,411, very close to 2014’s total of $756,623.
Directors receive additional pay for attending board meetings and chairing committees and are reimbursed for expenses while travelling on regional district business, including accommodation, mileage at 57 cents per kilometres, and up to $75 per day for meals, although they don’t always claim the full amounts.
The RDCK has 350 employees including elected officials.
The highest paid employee was chief administrator Stuart Horn, who made $212,898 including expenses.
The total payroll plus expenses for all employees in 2015 was $10,851,709, compared with 2014’s total of $10,062,810.
