2024 Belleville council remuneration and expenses

Belleville’s 2024 Council Remuneration and Expense Report details payments made to members of council and appointees to local boards, as required by the Municipal Act.

Mayor Neil Ellis was the highest paid elected official, receiving $114,356.39 in council remuneration, with additional earnings from appointments to Elexicon ($22,825.12) and the Police Services Board ($3,000). His total compensation, including benefits and expenses was $182,295.15.

City councillors each received a base salary of $40,177.15, with varying additional expenses.

Belleville councillor salaries are increased annually by the same amount that municipal staff in the “Administrative Employee Group” receive based on their union’s collective agreement.

• Councillor Lisa Anne Chatten incurred $6,754.90 in additional conference, travel, and car-related expenses – the highest among councillors.
• Councillor Sean Kelly reported the second-highest total expenses at $6,428.09.
• Councillor Chris Malette reported $5,167.54, including $1,157.77 for “Cultural Exchange“.
• Councilors Paul Carr and Kathryn Brown did not incur any expenses, except for Brown’s $256.37 for “Cultural Exchange“.

The full cost to taxpayers for council and board remuneration and expenses in 2024 totaled $616,473.22. This includes payments to appointees for boards such as the Police Services Board, Elexicon, and Quinte Conservation.

Benefits

In addition to the Mayor’s salary the additional payment of $400 monthly being a reasonable estimate for travel expenses within the City of Belleville.

Members of council receive:

• 100% of the premiums for Life, AD&D, Extended Health, Travel, Semi-Private, and Dental Insurance. The amount of coverage shall be the same as the coverage provided to the Administrative Employee Group.
• Eligible Council members may enrol in the Ontario Municipal Employment Retirement System (OMERS). Following the approval of this bylaw eligible Council members starting employment shall be enrolled in the Ontario Municipal Employment Retirement System (OMERS). Council Members who are deemed ineligible, will receive a payment in lieu of the City’s OMERS contributions for eligible Council Members.
• Reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of their acting in their capacity as Members of Council.
  • Payment for the use of their own vehicle on municipal business shall be at the rate of 52 cents per kilometer, for the Mayor outside of the Municipality and for Councillors within or outside of the Municipality, automatically adjusted to reflect any changes in the amount paid to the Administrative Employee Group per kilometer.