Mayor Derek Corrigan had his usual three per cent wage increase last year, but travel expenses were particularly high due to the sister city visit to China in September.
Corrigan received a total of $163,406, including wages, benefits and travel allowance last year - up from the $144,569 he received in 2011, according to the city's 2012 remuneration and expense report.
Corrigan's base salary was $120,928.60. He also received $11,150.03 for his retiring allowance, $10,030.71 for his transportation allowance, $2,349.15 for cellphones, telephones, fax and Internet costs, and an $8,247.54 taxable benefit.
Corrigan claimed $10,700.31 in travel expenses for 2012, up from $4,220.46 in 2011 - due to a sister-city visit to China and Taiwan in September, which cost $7,332.72
The other travel costs for last year include his sister-city visit to Arizona in March ($1,549.09); a conference in Whistler ($1,009.86); and the B.C. Mayors' Caucus meeting in Penticton ($768.64). Corrigan also went to Victoria twice for a Municipal Finance Authority meeting and a Metro Vancouver conference, but was reimbursed for both costs.
Burnaby councillors received a $9,049.40 increase to their base salary for 2012, which was $54,417.48. They also received $5,348.24 for a retiring allowance, $3,600 for a transportation allowance and varying amounts of acting mayor pay.
The councillor who claimed the most on travel expenses last year was Coun. Sav Dhaliwal. He received a total of $77,757.10, which includes the $11,377.46 claimed for travel expenses - despite passing on the trip to China and Taiwan.
Dhaliwal attended six other meetings and conferences in Harrison, Whistler,
Victoria, Saskatoon, Sask., Laval, Que., and Ottawa, Ont.
Coun. Colleen Jordan did not claim any travel expenses for 2012 and received a total of $70,589.71.
Coun. Richard Chang received $75,368.30, including $7,332.72 for his trip to China and Taiwan.
Coun. Pietro Calendino received $67,601.04, including the $50 he claimed to attend one event.
Coun. Dan Johnston received $66,137.26, including $1,161.38 for a sister city visit to Arizona.
Coun. Anne Kang received $75,465, including her trip to China and Taiwan expenses ($7,292.72) and a trip to Harrison for a Columbia Institute event ($515).
Coun. Paul McDonell received a total of $76,116.29, including his trip to China and Taiwan ($7,484.98), his trip to Arizona ($1,602.02) and a trip to Harrison for the Columbia Institute event ($652.99).
Coun. Nick Volkow received $71,162.11, including $3699.44 in travel expenses for two conferences.
Council's pay rates are usually set in August by a panel of community representatives. The panel considers factors such as the consumer price index, B.C.'s average wage increases and pay rates for city hall's unionized staff. The committee then presents its recommendation to council.
The 2012 annual SOFI report, which includes the remuneration and expense report for council and city staff, can be viewed online at www.burnaby.ca or a hard copy can be picked up at city hall.
