The City of Castlegar paid its employees over $6.7 million in wages and expenses in 2024, an increase of $693,745, or 11.5 per cent, over 2023.
According to the city’s annual statement of financial information, 46 employees made at least $75,000 in 2024, compared to 33 the previous year, while 18 made at least $100,000, up from 17 in 2023.
The total payroll was $6,574,729 plus $165,684 in expenses for a grand total of $6,740,413. In 2023, wages came to $5,889,999 and expenses to $156,669 for a total of $6,046,668.
There was one severance agreement between the city and an employee last year. The employee received six months’ compensation, but the amount was not revealed, nor was the employee named.
The top earners among staff were as follows:
| Name | Position | Salary | Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Barlow | Chief administrator | $194,398 | $17,876 |
| Chris Hallam | Municipal services manager | $185,788 | $7,924 |
| Sam Lattanzio | Fire chief | $157,304 | $691 |
| Duane Monsen | Deputy fire chief | $152,666 | $1,469 |
| David Bristow | Information technology manager | $141,992 | $6,181 |
Barlow, Hallam, and Monsen were also among the top five earners the previous year, while Lattanzio was sixth.
The elected officials made a little over $185,000 combined in stipend and expenses, compared to about $181,000 in 2023.
| Name | Position | Salary | Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria McFaddin | Mayor | $41,856 | $8,652 |
| Darcy Bell | Councillor | $18,528 | $375 |
| Brian Bogle | Councillor | $18,528 | $7,576 |
| Sandy Bojechko | Councillor | $18,528 | $1,535 |
| Shirley Falstead | Councillor | $18,528 | $6,664 |
| Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff | Councillor | $18,528 | $1,012 |
| Cherryl MacLeod | Councillor | $18,528 | $6,392 |
| Total | $153,024 | $32,206 |
The statement of financial information is supposed to be filed by June 30, but Castlegar’s was delayed because the year-end financial statements weren’t ready, due to staffing vacancies. City manager Chris Barlow said they explained this to the provincial government.
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