News Release

Mayor Kelly to donate raise to charities

 

 (November 8, 2011) Halifax – Mayor Peter Kelly announced Tuesday that he will donate the raise he received this month to charities. This is the second year in a row that the mayor has decided not to benefit from an automatic salary increase.

“These continue to be extremely difficult times for many citizens in the Halifax Regional Municipality,” Mayor Kelly said. “I am aware of so many instances of real hardship and that many must do with less.”

The Mayor’s raise was 5.92% and became effective November 1. Since 2004, salaries for HRM’s Mayor and Council have been based on a formula that tracks what their counterparts earn in seven other Canadian communities. At Council’s request, a review of the formula was carried out this year by an independent citizen’s group which found it to be fair and supportable.

Even though the mayor is legally obliged to accept the raise, he is free to redirect it however and wherever he chooses.

“I believe that this is the right thing for me to do and I hope it will make an appreciable difference for various charities in our community,” Mayor Kelly said.

 

Contact: Mayor Peter Kelly

(902)-490-4010