A citizen committee reviewing pay rates for city councillors could make its recommendations next spring.
The committee intends to survey other Ontario municipalities with similar populations, number of employees, and annual expenses. It was appointed in May and it has since met twice.
City councillors gave themselves a raise in February to offset a nixed federal tax deduction that had permitted one-third of their income to be tax-free.
That boosted councillor salaries to $23,072 a year, and the mayor’s remuneration from the city to $80,435.
But after Coun. Mike Stark proposed an additional $7,600 a year for councillors, and another $2,700 for the mayor, they agreed to create the five-member citizen committee.
The committee is comprised of two members recommended by the Chamber of Commerce, two from the Sarnia & District Labour Council, and one member at large.
Council remuneration is fixed but has been adjusted annually since 2005 based on the consumer price index.