The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary paid out over $14 million in salaries and expenses in 2025, an increase of about $878,000, or 6.6 per cent over the previous year.
According to the RDKB’s statement of financial information, one employee earned over $200,000 last year, down from four the previous year (plus a fifth who made that amount when salary and expenses were combined).
Forty-three employees made at least $100,000 each in 2025 (plus two who topped that amount when salaries and expenses were combined), compared to 34 in 2024 (plus three more with salary and expenses combined).
A total of 82 employees made at least $75,000 in 2025, which is the threshold for disclosure. That was up from 68 employees in 2024.
The overall payroll in 2025 was $13.8 million plus $310,000 in expenses. In 2024, the RDKB paid $12.8 million in salaries and $442,000 in expenses. The RDKB’s totals include members of Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue.
The top earners among staff were as follows:
| Name | Position | Salary | Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Andison | Chief administrator | $236,594 | $11,399 |
| Clayton Alderson | Firefighter | $194,251 | – |
| James Chandler | Deputy chief administrator | $189,188 | $11,422 |
| Lee DePellegrin | Firefighter | $188,456 | – |
| Ryan Smyth | Firefigther | $187,279 | – |
Andison (who has since retired), Alderson, and Smyth were also among the top earners the previous year.
Elected officials made a combined total of $564,000 in stipend and expenses, down from $576,000 the previous year. The individual totals are below. Rural directors are paid more than municipal directors, recognizing that municipal directors also receive stipends from serving on their respective councils.
The chair and vice-chair are also paid extra, and there is additional remuneration from participating in various meetings and committees. Andy Morel was chair for most of 2025, until Grace McGregor was elected in November.
| Director | Area | Salary | Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Grieve | A (Beaver Valley) | $51,352 | $11,207 |
| Linda Worley | B (Columbia River) | $52,187 | $9,640 |
| Grace McGregor | C (Christina Lake) | $57,196 | $16,029 |
| Linda Kay Wiese | D (Rural Grand Forks) | $49,377 | $11,097 |
| Christine Linton | D (Rural Grand Forks) [alternate] | $322 | – |
| Sharen Gibbs | E (West Boundary) | $48,930 | $22,651 |
| Bill Wenman | Fruitvale | $24,598 | $484 |
| Catherine Guesford | Fruitvale [alternate] | $432 | – |
| Everett Baker | Grand Forks | $21,899 | $1,408 |
| John Bolt | Greenwood | $3,486 | $516 |
| Gerry Shaw | Greenwood | $17,895 | $3,044 |
| C.J. Rhodes | Greenwood [alternate] | $324 | – |
| Richard Dunsdon | Midway | $23,160 | $2,957 |
| Mike Walsh | Montrose | $20,972 | $755 |
| Andy Morel | Rossland | $52,313 | $2,689 |
| Terry Martin | Trail | $29,460 | $131 |
| Frank Marino | Warfield | $27,924 | $86 |
| TOTAL | $481,827 | $82,694 |
Other local municipalities and regional districts showed a wide range of payroll increases between 2024 and 2025. The Regional District of Central Kootenay was up 5.1 per cent; the City of Grand Forks was up 5.9 per cent; the City of Rossland was up 8.8 per cent; and the City of Trail was up 19 per cent, in part because it filled several positions that had long been vacant.
