Town councillors in Antigonish have voted in favour of a pay increase to help offset a federal income tax change.
One-third of a municipal councillor’s stipend used to be tax-free to off-set the cost of travel, but federal officials have removed that exemption, so their take-home pay will be less.
After December’s regular town council meeting Monday night, Laurie Boucher, the mayor of Antigonish, said the hike in their stipend will coincide with the federal change Jan. 1.
“We will increase it enough so that it will make up for the loss in the taxes,” she said. “It will not be an increase to our take-home stipend, but it will be equal to what we’re taking home now.”
Municipal councillors in Guysborough voted against a pay increase in November; Port Hawkesbury town councillors have delayed their decision until budget deliberations.