County Of Lambton Administrative Building (BlackburnNews.com file photo.)County Of Lambton Administrative Building (BlackburnNews.com file photo.)
Sarnia

Warden Defends Spike In Managers' Salaries

Lambton County's warden does not feel salaries for the federation's top managers are out of line, despite her expressed concerns about the long-term financial stability of municipal government.

Figures obtained by BlackburnNews.com show a dozen senior managers, from 2010 to 2014, have received total pay increases ranging from 15% to 44%.

Warden Bev MacDougall says Lambton County is a "median paying employer," not at the high or low end of the spectrum.

"They're paid to their comparators out there in the market place, and in addition to that, they're also paid according to periodic market checks that council directs our staff to undertake to make sure we're in line with what other similar-sized corporations are paying," she says.

Earlier this month, county council passed MacDougall's motion calling for a staff report on the current cost of taxpayer-funded employee benefits.

It's expected future options for co-payment of benefits by all union and non-union employees will be considered during closed door meetings.

900 unionized county workers are covered by 11 collective agreements.

Figures obtained by Blackburn News, outlining rising costs of salaries for a dozen of Lambton County's top management positions. The numbers are taken from annual Sunshine List reports.Figures obtained by Blackburn News, outlining rising costs of salaries for a dozen of Lambton County's top management positions. The numbers are taken from annual Sunshine List reports.

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