Peterborough City Council will consider recommendations for a new compensation framework that could see significant pay increases and the introduction of vehicle allowances for the 2026–2030 Council term.
Staff are proposing a reset in how base remuneration for members of Council is calculated, using a group of 15 comparable municipalities. Based on this benchmark, Peterborough’s current pay rates for both the Mayor and Councillors are at the low end, ranking at the 7.1th and 14.2th percentiles respectively.
To bring local compensation in line with peers, staff recommend adopting the 75th percentile as the new standard. If applied in 2023, this would have placed the Mayor’s salary at $135,103 and a Councillor’s at $50,234. When adjusted for inflation using CUPE collective bargaining settlements, 2026 figures are projected at $147,631 for the Mayor and $54,991 for each Councillor.
Currently, base pay for the Mayor in 2025 is expected to be $92,373 plus an estimated $23,341 in benefits. Councillors will earn $36,185 plus $10,728 in benefits. The Mayor receives additional compensation for board roles, while Councillors receive none for committee or board participation.
The review also recommends the introduction of a transportation allowance: $6,000 annually for the Mayor and $3,000 for each Councillor. Travel expenses for conferences and training would also be reimbursed based on the City’s mileage rates.
Council reviews its compensation once per term, with any changes taking effect in the following term.
(Written by: Jordan Mercier)
