PoCo council pay hit $679k in 2025
Following back-to-back 12.5 percent pay raises, salaries for Port Coquitlam city councillors ticked up by more than $15,000 between 2023 and 2025.
Councillors earned a base salary $65,571, with benefits ranging from $3,869 to $9,705 in 2025. Councillors were paid $49,147 in 2023.
Mayor Brad West earned $211,628 last year, including $42,283 in benefits and other compensation.
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Expenses, which are used to pay for attending conferences, ranged from $788 for Coun. Steve Darling to $10,750 for West.
Including salaries, benefits and expenses, Port Coquitlam’s council was paid a total of $679,497 in 2025.
The number of Port Coquitlam city staffers earning six figures also increased in 2025.
In 2023, 21 city staffers earned $150,000. Including salaries, benefits and expenses, 60 Port Coquitlam staffers were paid at least $150,000 in 2025.
Top salaries included chief administrative officer Rob Bremner, who earned $309,000. The city’s deputy CAO, director of engineering and public works, director of development services, and director of finance were each paid $224,000.
City costs
Port Coquitlam’s biggest expense for 2025 was $24.6 million for recreation.
Engineering and public works was next, with a budget of $22.7 million.
Waste, water, and sewer operations combined to cost the city $29.8 million, with water taking the biggest share at $13.9 million.
Police and fire services cost $20.8 million and $16.8 million, respectively.
General government costs were $13.7 million.
Debt
The city has $102.2 million in debt through the Municipal Finance Authority.
That sum includes $25 million for the Coast Meridian Overpass, which is due to be paid in 2039, and $52 million for the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, due in 2049.
The other $25.2 million in debt stems from land acquisition in the city’s downtown.
However, the city has saved $16.4 million in sinking fund credits, bringing the net debt to $85.7 million.
When announcing the land acquisition initiative, West said the land would make life better for residents and ultimately bring taxpayers a return on the investment.
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