The 118 highest-paid City of Thompson employees – those making $50,000 or more in total compensation – collectively earned about $8.7 million in 2017, about 29 per cent of the city’s total expenses.
More than twice as many city workers made more than $100,000 in 2017 than in the previous year. Nine municipal employees made six figures last year compared to four in 2016.
Overall, the number of employees earning more than $50,000 once salaries, allowances, overtime payments, vacation payouts, taxable benefits and retroactive pay are combined went up to 118 in 2017 from 114 the year before, and their combined compensation increased about a tenth of a per cent from $8,733,854.70 in 2016 to $8,748,488.18 in 2017, an increase of $14,633.48. Compensation for these 118 employees rose less than spending overall, which went up a little less than seven per cent in 2017 from the previous year.
Thirty-five of the employees making more than $50,000 in 2017 earned total compensation of between $60,000 and $70,000, while 30 made between $70,000 and $80,000. Eighteen earned less than $60,000, and 15 made more than $80,000 but less than $90,000, while 11 earned between $90,000 and $100,000 last year.
The 10 highest-paid city employees were city manager Gary Ceppetelli ($155,426), chief financial officer Jenny Krentz ($143,475.12), firefighter/paramedic Darrick Graff ($107,232.41), director of fire and public safety John Maskerine ($106,611.57), firefighter/paramedic Travis Mirus ($104,079.57), mechanic Randy Bosters ($103,458.92), firefighter/paramedic Jason Kuras ($101,911.20), director of public works Wayne Koversky ($101,075.45) and firefighter/paramedic Adrienne Burton ($99,720.78). Three of those employees – Ceppetelli, Maskerine and Koversky – have resigned or will resign from their positions this year.
A document prepared to comply with Manitoba Bill 57Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act, which came into effect in 1996, showing the names, job titles and total compensation of city employees making $50,000 or more can be viewed on the city’s website at https://thompson.municipalwebsites.ca/Editor/images/documents/Finance/Bill%2057.pdf.
