Friday, February 11, 2011

Mayor Cook says no flip-flop on Per Diems

After a story on the Rush over WL Council flip-flopping on Per Diems, City of Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook said this on the subject:

WILLIAMS LAKE MAYOR KERRY COOK SAYS HER COUNCIL DID NOT FLIP FLOP ON IT’S TRAVEL PER DIEM POLICY THIS WEEK.



COOK SAYS THE PER DIEM WAS RAISED FROM $60 TO $68 A DAY AT NO EXTRA COST TO TAXPAYERS. SHE SAYS THE $8 INCREASE WILL COVER THE HST AND CAN BE USED AS A TAX WRITE OFF.

AT THEIR PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 25TH, COUNCIL HAD UNANIMOUSLY OPPOSED ANY INCREASE TO THE PER DIEM DUE TO “TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.”

Really....if this is true (Per Diem at $68 & no cost to taxpayers), then when the raise to per diems??  Why not just leave it at $60 and claim the HST through the City's accounting process.  This is clearly a case of flip-flopping - period.  If the general public gets no assistance on HST on meals - why should Council/Staff be any different?

This is simply a case of Mayor and Council being totally unable to say no when it counts.  What else are they willing to raise because they don't want to "rock the boat"?

SBF

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's called compromise Steve. The union gets something, and the City has no increase in cost. It's not a flip flop when reasonable people change their minds.

Anonymous said...

The general public isnt told to go to something and have no choice....if im told i have to attend something at the employers direction, it should be covered by the employer or dont send me, i shouldnt be out of pocket.

Inflation and taxation (liberal specialties) have caused this increase and you cant blame any employee to want to have their expenses covered.

At 60.00 a day.....12-15 for breakfast, 12-15 for lunch and 15-20 for dinner and incidentals for road trips is not unrealistic. Covering the Owelympic tax now has to be factored in as the Liebrals tacked it onto restaurants....nothing like costing the public and the municipal govts more to operate......