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Port Moody’s employee expenses rose 3% in 2023; costs for goods and services rose 21%: report

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Port Moody’s spending for salaries as well as goods and services all rose last year, according to the recently released 2023 statement of financial information.

In total, the city spent $29.6 million on employee salaries and expenses in 2023, a three percent increase from 2022.

Out of more than 750 city employees, 15 made over $150,000 in 2023, compared to just 10 in 2022.

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The highest paid employee in 2023 was now-retired city manager, Tim Savoie, who earned a $228,951 base salary.

Other highest salaried positions include: Paul Rockwood, general manager of finance and technology ($182,752); Angela Parnell, general manager of corporate services ($182,752); Jeff Moi, general manager of engineering & operations ($173,083); Fire Chief Darcey O’Riordan ($172,863); Kate Zanon, general manager of community development ($172,821); and Anna Mathewson, the new city manager ($172,492).

City council were paid $471,154 in 2023, jumping 20 percent from the $378,705 earned in 2022, after council approved a retroactive raise for themselves at the end of 2023. Mayor Meghan Lahti was paid $142,010 for the city’s top job, while councillors were each paid $54,857.

Council’s expenses totalled $71,434, nearly doubling from the $32,654 spent in 2022.

The city’s costs for goods and services also spiked 21 percent in 2023, rising $16 million from the $63.5 million spent in 2022. A total of $4.8 million was spent on contractors, while another $3.8 million was used for consulting and professional services.

Port Moody’s annual financial report shows the city took in $55.3 million in tax revenues in 2023, around 10 percent more than 2022. A total $17.9 million, or 32.4 percent, was collected from its industrial and commercial businesses.

Port Moody has six businesses which bring in more than $1 million in tax revenues each year. The three highest taxed corporations in the city include: Suncor Energy ($8.7 million); Pacific Coast Terminals ($2.2 million); and Imperial Oil ($2 million).

Author

Having spent the first 20 years of his life in Port Moody, Patrick Penner has finally returned as a hometown reporter.

His youth was spent wiping out on snowboards, getting hit in the face with hockey pucks, and frolicking on boats in the Port Moody Arm.

After graduating Heritage Woods Secondary School, Penner wandered around aimlessly for a year before being given an ultimatum by loving, but concerned, parents: “rent or college.” 

With that, he was off to the University of Victoria to wander slightly less aimlessly from book, to classroom, to beer, and back.

Penner achieved his undergraduate degree in 2017, majoring in political science and minoring in history.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, translating this newfound education into career opportunities proved somewhat challenging.

After working for a short time as a lowly grunt in various labour jobs, Penner’s fruitless drifting came to an end.

He decided it was time to hit the books again. This time, with focus.

Nine months later, Penner had received a certificate of journalism from Langara College and was awarded the Jeani Read-Michael Mercer Fellowship upon graduation.

When that scholarship led to a front page story in the Vancouver Sun, he knew he had found his calling.

Penner moved to Abbotsford to spend the next three years learning from grizzled reporters and editors at Black Press Media.

Assigned to the Mission Record as the city’s sole reporter, he developed a taste for investigative and civic reporting, eventually being nominated for the 2023 John Collison Investigative Journalism Award.

Unfortunately, dwindling resources and cutbacks in the community media sphere convinced Penner to seek out alternative ways to deliver the news. 

When a position opened up at the Tri-Cities Dispatch, he knew it was time to jump ship and sail back home to beautiful Port Moody.