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Kovach, Wright and Smith will serve on committee

Monica Kovach, Bernadette Wright and Kevin Smith have had their positions reaffirmed on the remuneration committee that will determine the wages of Estevan city council for the rest of this term.
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Monica Kovach, Bernadette Wright and Kevin Smith have had their positions reaffirmed on the remuneration committee that will determine the wages of Estevan city council for the rest of this term.

Council voted the three of them to the committee at a special meeting on Friday morning.

The trio had been appointed to the committee by council at Monday night’s meeting. Jeff Boos and Shirley Thera were also on the ballot.

But due to a clerical error, Dale Wetsch was left off the ballot. The omission was not detected until after the vote took place, and so council decided to stage another meeting Friday to re-select the committee members.

Council decided to create a remuneration committee in the middle of its current term due to changes in non-accountable allowances.

One-third of the total remuneration paid to the members of council was traditionally deemed to be paid for general expenses incurred, and as a result that compensation was not taxable.

But due to the removal of non-accountable allowances federally, there will be a decrease in the net take home pay for council members. Other municipalities have already taken steps to address this issue, with councils in many communities giving themselves raises to account for the lost money.

The remuneration committee will determine whether Estevan city council should receive higher wages in 2019 and 2020.