Gravenhurst nixes council pay increase review

Huntsville recently used Gravenhurst as a comparator in their study

Gravenhurst Council suspended conducting a formal market review to assess a pay increase, in the May 13, 2025, meeting.

According to the agenda, the Town’s Council Remuneration Policy requires a comprehensive third-party review in the third portion of the 4-year term of Council.

It adds that hiring a third-party consultant would result in “municipal financial and human resource implications.”

It continues, “Council’s current remuneration is perceived to be comparable to other municipal comparators who have recently undergone reviews.”

The motion was put forward by Councillor, Christina Hunter, who explained that the Town of Huntsville already had a review completed which included Gravenhurst on the list of comparators, so it doesn’t make sense to pay a consultant $15,000 to conduct another market review.

She said, “I can’t get behind a review.”

She suggested that the Town can use Huntsville’s review for the details they need for considering a cost of living pay adjustment instead.

Councillor, Erin Strength, concurred. She said, “In a world where things are utterly crazy, I don’t agree more.”

Council members agreed about the importance of a pay increase that will be attractive to potential new members and expressed concerns about not receiving health benefits that would be available in other careers.

Councillor, Sandy Cairns, expressed that it’s essential that members be supported financially. She said, “It’s important that we do take care of the politicians that sit around the tables… They do work for the community.”

Staff have been directed to suspend the “review portion” of the Council Remuneration Policy for Council. They will report back about the Council remuneration from a “cost of living and other perspectives only.”

Councillor members emphasized that pay increases considered will be applied to Council in the next term (not the current one).