During budget deliberations that begin today, town council will examine a 15.3 per cent increase in their own budget that has largely been fuelled by the elimination of the one-third income tax exemption.

For the first time, residents will be provided with a clearer view of what the mayor and town councillors are paid. But it also means local ratepayers will be paying more.

It is proposed the annual remuneration for the mayor be increased to $99,600 and that councillors receive $33,600 to offset the change in the tax regime. The mayor and council also receive benefits and have expense accounts at their disposal, which aren't necessarily exhausted during the course of a year.

It is recommended council's overall budget be increased to $544,189 from $471,997. That includes salaries, benefits, materials, goods and supplies.

Whether council agrees with the adjustments will be part of the budget liberations taking place over the next two days and, if necessary, on Nov. 19.

Jaylene Knight, manager of legislative services, says there will be an extensive review of the council remuneration policy done in the first part of the year because they are finding additional gaps that need to be closed and/or reviewed. It will come before council for their consideration as to how to address council remuneration moving forward.

Groups like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation praise the change as a further move towards transparency in compensation paid to government officials across the country.

In contrast, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association is among those advocating for the federal government to provide a minimum tax exemption for elected officials to acknowledge the public service they provide. The association believes it could be similar to the federal emergency exemption that removes income tax on the first $1,000 of income earned by volunteer ambulance technicians, firefighters, search and rescue and other emergency volunteers.

In the March 2017 budget, the federal government made the change that comes into effect January 1, 2019. It impacts all provincial and territorial legislatures, municipal councillors as well as elected officials of municipal utility boards, commissions, corporations and school boards. Specific employment expenses will remain non-taxable.

Federal politicians ended their tax-free status in 2000 and Alberta eliminated the tax-free allowance for MLAs in 2012. Calgary’s city council eliminated their tax-exempt status is 2006, as did their school trustees.