City councillors vent about their pay, workload, and sacrifices in anonymous survey

An anonymous survey revealed some heated opinions on how members of city council feel about their coworkers – CTV London's Daryl Newcombe has the details.

Behind the veil of anonymity offered by a recent survey, London’s city councillors are shedding light on several aspects of local politics many might not state publicly.

However, one has chosen to go on the record with CTV News.

A pair of surveys recently collected feedback from city councillors and the general public to assist the Council Resourcing Review Task Force (CRRTF) develop a set of recommendations about municipal politicians’ compensation, workloads, and job descriptions during the 2026-2030 term.

Just eight of council’s 15 members responded to the survey.

Each was randomly assigned a number (1-8) to assure anonymity.

The uneven division of labour between councillors was a sore point for some respondents.

Councillor 7 wrote, “…there are some councillors who spend [about] 10 hours a week (I can think of 2 currently), who don’t really do much, and still get compensated the same as the rest of us. This is particularly frustrating as they are not carrying the same workload.”

The general sentiment was shared by Councillor 5, “It’s nice to hope for the workload to be evenly shared - but that seldom is the case.”

Ward 2 Councillor Shawn Lewis, who also serves as deputy mayor, couldn’t share his unique perspective in the survey without exposing his identity as Councillor 6.

“Well, its not the first time I’ve outed myself in my life,” joked Lewis, London’s first openly gay member of Council.

But Lewis got serious about uneven workloads and the toll it takes on some of his hardest working colleagues.

“There are councillors who do more than others, but ultimately, every four years we face the electorate,” the deputy mayor explained. “And if the electorate decides you aren’t worth the pay for the job, then they shouldn’t send you back.”

Lewis’ written comments as Councillor 6 included the personal sacrifices that come with a role that he says requires 36 to 40 hours each week as councillor, plus 12 to 20 hours as Deputy Mayor.

He acknowledged in the survey, “I am often replying to emails late into the night, declining fun with family and friends because of work obligations, etc. And after all of that, can’t afford even a vacation to decompress beyond perhaps a week at home, or a weekend somewhere close enough to drive to, and have to worry about whether I can afford my home.”

Asked about the commitment by CTV News he added, “Most jobs you go in, you do your eight hours, you go home. You leave your work at work. Councillors don’t ever get to actually do that.”

Currently, a councillor earns base pay equal to the median full-time employment income in London ($67,420).

The roles of deputy mayor and budget chair pay an additional $8,427.

Councillors also receive health benefits, life insurance, a car allowance, and have a $13,500 expense account for business-related travel, conferences, and ward expenses.

Individually they set their own performance expectations with few rules regarding attendance, communication with constituents, and participation on external boards and commissions.

City Hall also recently surveyed Londoners about their expectations of municipal politicians and appropriate compensation.

Of 365 respondents, most want full-time councillors - but don’t feel the role deserves a pay raise.

Specifically, 70.7 per cent of respondents felt the role of City Councillor should be full-time, and serve as an individual’s primary employment.

A combined 71.2 per cent were against a pay raise (44.9 per cent “paid appropriately,” plus 26.3 per cent “overpaid”).

Lewis believes compensation at the same level as the median full-time employment income is insufficient based on the expectations placed on councillors.

“If you want to attract good quality people to do these jobs, you have to recognize this is not an ‘average job’. This is a sometimes grueling, sometimes very rewarding job,” he explained.

The Council Resourcing Review Task Force is made up of former councillors and citizens appointed by the City Clerk.

Recommendations made by the task force this fall will be considered by City Council.

Results of the surveys will be considered by task force members at their next meeting on May 9.

A final report from the most recent Council Compensation Review Task Force was presented to council in March of 2022.

It determined that councillors should continue to earn the median employment income in London, but added that annual increases be automatic based on federal census data.