Central Okanagan school trustees are about to get a pay raise.

The finance and audit committee has endorsed a recommendation to the board of education for trustees to receive a 3.7 per cent indemnity increase.

It translates to a new stipend as of July 1, 2024, of $24,941 for trustees, $26,341 for the vice chair and $28,469 for the board chair.

The 3.7 per cent figure is derived from the most recent B.C. Consumer Price index average for the period extending back to July 1, 2023.

B.C. school districts are responsible for setting their own trustee indemnity rates, with most relying on the BC Consumer Index as the basis for trustee remuneration.

Speaking at the finance and audit committee meeting Wednesday (April 3), trustee Amy Geistlinger said she has felt in the past the need to voice against indemnity increases.

But now having been the Lake Country representative on the board of education, she has come to realize the cost and time trustees face in their responsibilities, and noted how trustees receive no benefits.

鈥淚 think under the circumstances, this is a reasonable increase,鈥� she said.

Trustee Valene Johnson echoed Geistlinger鈥檚 sentiments, saying she is essentially working at two jobs between serving on the board and her regular job, and the time commitment that calls for.

鈥淚t is important to follow the data and provide increases when called for that make sense,鈥� Johnson said.

The board of education will ratify the recommendation, with the next meeting where a vote could be taken being Wednesday, April 10.

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