Brampton Council Moves to Freeze Salaries and Eliminate One-Third Tax Free

Mayor Linda Jeffrey and members of Council continued with their commitment to make the City of Brampton a leader in municipal governance. Council adopted two key budget motions including the elimination of the one-third tax-free salary benefit for members of Council and an indefinite freeze for Council salaries. The salary freeze will take effect immediately upon passage of the 2015 budget.
“I believe it is important to show leadership. I moved a motion recommending that the Mayor and Council freeze our salaries. This will set the tone for future discussions while at the same time demonstrating to City staff that we won’t ask them to do something that we ourselves wouldn’t participate in,” said Mayor Linda Jeffrey.
The one-third tax free benefit will be eliminated as of January 1, 2016 in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001. The suggestion to take these actions was introduced during the Mayor’s opening remarks at the beginning of the City’s first 2015 Budget Committee meeting. Mayor Jeffrey later moved the two separate motions to implement these changes that both passed unanimously with a recorded vote.
“Council’s unanimous support of these initiatives clearly demonstrates our collective commitment to accountability and transparency. Council has done what it said it would do; we are not just making empty promises,” said Wards 1 and 5 Regional Councillor Elaine Moore
“I think Council’s support of a self-imposed wage freeze and the removal of the outdated one-third tax free benefit sets the example for a new way of doing business at City Hall,”said Wards 9 and 10 City Councillor Gurpreet Singh Dhillon