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[Ed: Spokesperson Brendan Elliott lets us know there are 453 people working for the fire department as of June 30, and 788 in various capacities in the police department. That puts 47 percent of Fire and Emergency on the sunshine list, and 37 percent of HRP, instead of the 44 and 57 percent numbers quoted below. The number of HRM staff fluctuates throughout the year, Elliott writes in an email, but as of June 30 there were 3,578 active employees (not counting library staff, volunteer firefighters, council, anyone on a leave of absence, part-time and recreation programming staff). With 665 names on the sunshine list, that works out to 18.5 percent of HRM’s employees making $100,000 or more.]
In what’s gotta be disappointing news for HRM’s Satanists, only 665 municipal employees earned more than $100,000 last fiscal year.
That’s according to Halifax’s sunshine list, which was finally released yesterday by city hall. It includes anyone the municipality directly or indirectly paid $100,000 or more to over the last fiscal year—including councillors, contractors, consultants and employees.
Probably due to overtime pay, the list is mostly filled with cops and firefighters. Based on The Coast’s rudimentary count (the file wasn’t released in a spreadsheet), roughly 57 percent of Halifax Regional Police officers are making over $100,000. The same is true for about 44 percent of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency personnel.
That’s based on the 516 full- and part-time employees HRP has—293 of whom show up on city hall’s sunshine list. The fire department had 489 full-time equivalent positions last fiscal year, and 213 names on the list.
Halifax Public Libraries, for comparison, has 513 employees (including 38 managers and non-union positions), but only seven employees who make over $100,000 a year (when factoring in benefits).
The largest payment to an individual—to no great shock or surprise—was paid to outgoing chief administrative officer Richard Butts, who collected $346,336 last fiscal year.
Coming up behind Butts is Halifax Water general manager Carl Yates, whose salary and benefits equaled $237,567.
Former deputy CAO Mike Labrecque, who left HRM in March, earned $228,395. That’s slightly ahead of acting chief administrative officer John Traves, who pulled in $218,664 in total payments last fiscal year.
Fire chief Doug Trussler earned $206,000, and police chief Jean-Michel Blais took in $205,000 in the same period.
Wages paid to employees include any salary, overtime, retirement, severance, lump-sum and vacation payments. Benefits include vehicles and allowances, living accommodations and other non-cash payments.
Police sergeant Randy Stoddard only earned a salary/wages of $88,476 last year, for example. But the sergeant also took in an extra $52,915 in other benefits, for a total calculated payment of $141,391.
Paula Saulnier, director of planning and development with the library board, received $59,873 in benefits—equal to about 90 percent of her $68,096 salary/wages. Police constable Gordon Waterfield was another benefits outlier, earning an extra $44,621 on top of his $72,963 in salary/wages.
Mayor Mike Savage is the only elected official on the list, with $177,000 in salary and wages.
The first ever HRM sunshine list was approved by council last November, and will be released annually from here on out. You can read the full document below.
This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2016.
HRM is drowning in cash. The number of overpaid employees is sickening.
@RedRocketV8. So you would turn down an HRM job..?
The salaries don’t match the infrastructure they are managing. Major league salaries for minor league infrastructure. The sewers and buses are dilapidated to the point of complete replacement. Guy’s before we start to pat ourselves on the back with nice salaries shouldn’t you have the community basics like the sewer system working like a clock first?
I think we can all agree that the infrastructure being managed in Toronto is more complex and demanding responsibility then HRM. Also the cost of living in Toronto is higher. Yet here is the list of salaries paid to the city workers in Canada’s biggest city. Seems a little to close for comfort to this tax payer.
Joe Pennachetti, city manager: $363,234.
Bill Blair, chief of police: $334,291.
Andy Byford, TTC CEO $323,638.
David McKeown, medical officer of health $298,488.
Barbara Yafee, associate medical officer of health, communicable disease control $288,488.
Elzbieta Rozak, registered nurse long term care & hostels $285,922.
Michael Finklestein, associate medical officer of health, $275,750.
John Livey, deputy city manager $272,824.
Gene Jones, CEO Toronto Community Housing Corp. $270,581.
Sameh Ghaly, TTC chief capital officer, $257,600.
Other noteable city workers on the sunshine list include:
Ombudsman Fiona Crean: $232,322.
Solicitor Anna Kinastowski: $232,739.
City librarian Jane Pyper: $228,618 (note Pyper has recently announced she’s stepping down).
Chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat: $216,867
Wow! The police and fire unions have done a great job for their members. What was once a middle class job has moved into the upper middle class making as much as professional engineers, lawyers, etc that require years of schooling. A great example of what happens when the laws of supply and demand do not matter.
+1 to city mouse for completely missing the point.
I have no problem with police officers being paid over 100k, they deal with dangerous situations and people every shift and can’t decide to not enter a situation because it is too dangerous. Firefighters do have that choice. They do not have to enter a burning structure if it is too dangerous, they surround and drown the fire instead. Firefighters work one 24 hour shift and then have three days off. Their quality of family life is exceptional. Many work on the side and their spouses don’t work or vice versa. They have the rule of 75 for their pension instead of rule of 80. Fire prevention being what it is today has eliminated much of the danger for firefighters. Yes, they are first responders but they aren’t the primary responder for most emergencies Insiders refer to the job as ladder 649!
@RedRocketV8
You didn’t answer the question.
Or maybe from your non-answer, it is quite clear that you would indeed take that job.
@city mouse – if I was a communications person making the $60K that job normally pays and HRM came along and offered me twice what it pays on the open market, who wouldn’t take it? THAT IS NOT THE POINT. Why are they paying so much over market for these people – which despite their official explanations, is exactly what they are doing in many cases? This is public money and needs to be spent with the greatest of care, not thrown around like on a game show.
Not sure what fire department you are talking about Orville. Police officers have the same choice as Firefighters when it comes down to a dangerous situation. The choice is do the job. Check out the stats on Firefighters and Police killed in the line of duty you obviously will have an eye opener. Of course sometimes it does come down to surround and drown this only when there is no chance of a rescue. As far as a 24 hour shift goes it all comes down to a 42 hour work week same as Police and more hours than many other gov’t positions and private sectors. If the Firefighter has the skill set and chooses to work extra jobs power to him, remember all these other jobs you talk about is taking away from his family life so a little contradictory statement you made. Last point the firefighters on that list have worked an exceptional number of extra hours for straight time wages again taking away from the exceptional family life you refer to
@redrocketV8. I do not believe that HRM is paying over market. I understand that HRM wants to be in the p50 range and does considerable market research to determine pay scales. Aside from Police and Fire the salaries are for senior managers and directors who have significant experience and skills (engineers, lawyers, etc). The troubling salaries are in the fire department. No way should someone with a grade twelve education and who does not have to have any other qualification be paid that much money. Yes firefighters provide a much needed service but they are over paid for what they do and how often they leave the station on calls. They are paid to sleep. Try taking away their 24 hour shift and see what happens. Makes more sense for firefighters to be on a twelve hour shift and actually work the entire shift (training, inspections, etc) instead of sleeping. There is little difference between HRMs outside workers and firefighters but there is a huge pay disparity.
@RedRocket.
Of course you would take the job. You would do what you previously called called “sickening”.
So, what does that make you?
For any job that has the inherent daily potential to end your life(police get shot,stabbed,etc.,& firefighters put their lives on the line.
BOTH save lives & protect us:that’s WORTH whatever we pay them!
You disagree? If so,then the next time a call comes in to stop a fire,face down a gunman/armed assailant…ask yourself:
HOW MUCH is a firefighter’s or police officer’s life worth if it cost them their life to protect YOU?!?
Then ask yourself: am I willing daily to risk MY life to protect/save/help others?
If you ARE willing…HRM Police & Fire Services are hiring,go apply.I can pretty much guarantee that if you get killed in the line of duty,NO amount of money will replace you or comfort your grieving family.
Those that risk their lives in service if others deserve to be WELL paid.
What is sickening is how I was treated by Constable Nathan cross a decade ago and now he’s making 116 000/year. The police were called because I was screaming for help because my boyfriend was beating me. Police got there and separated us. I had the wind knocked out of me and could barely talk as I was also crying and my shoulder was in excruciating pain. All I could say was “it was the both of us” because I was terrified what would happen if I stated what was going on and they left us there together. I was dealing with Nathan Cross and he never mentioned in the province of NS one of you always get arrested if there is a domestic dispute (might be good to mention becasue the victim is likely to cover up what is going on for fear of their own safety). He put me in handcuffs and as I was being put into the back of his car he lifted up my skirt and said, “oh, she’s a cutter. That explains that.” I had just turned 18 and had PTSD before moving in with my bf who turned out to be abusive. We got to the station and he removed the cuffs, but one was still stuck on my wrist. I slightly moved my hand to get it off (was not a remotely aggressive maneuver) and the next thing I knew I was face down on a concrete floor with nathan’s knee shoved into the back of my shoulder that my boyfriend had just damaged. I know he knew what was was in pain. His partner had to pull him off me. I called my mom but wasn’t allowed to see her and nathan told me I was now going to be charged with attempting to assault an officer which I in no way did. He told me I wouldn’t be spending the night in jail if I hadn’t tried to attack him… His partner walked my mom out to her car when she got there and told her to tell me to plead not guilty as this was entirely uncalled for to begin with. I sat in jail throwing up all night because of a minor concussion and stress. I sat in jail all night because of an asshole who beat me up and then another asshole who was unnecessarily aggressive and demeaning. The next morning, when they finally gave me water that I’d been asking for for about 6 hours, they told me I was going to court. As soon as I saw the lawyer he told me not to worry because I shouldnt even be in jail, let alone court, in the first place. When I saw the judge he told me to take care and try to go enjoy the beautiful day outside. I’m glad this officer is being paid so much for getting aggressive with traumatized women who are being physically and sexually abused by their partner.