Governance

Governance committee sends trustee pay amendments to Trust Council

The committee voted to forward a draft policy request to the March Trust Council meeting after reviewing a consultant’s recommendations on trustee remuneration.

The Denman Firestarter · Published 2026-10-19

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The draft request for decision would amend the Islands Trust trustee remuneration policy, and the Governance Committee voted to forward it to the March Trust Council meeting; the minutes do not record a committee recommendation on a specific pay option.^[1]

Consultant Paul Murray recommended setting trustee remuneration at 60 per cent of the median compensation for regional district electoral area directors, with a proposed structure dividing the amount between Trust Council and local trust committee work.^[2]

Murray estimated that full implementation of the 60 per cent option would add $260,000 in a full year; he said a first-year implementation beginning April 1 would cost $130,000. He also gave full-year estimates of $160,000 for the 50 per cent option and about $23,000 for the 35 per cent option.^[2]

The minutes record discussion of the comparator, trustee workload, accessibility and the budget effect. They say any increase would affect the annual budget beginning in April 2027.^[1]

The recording includes differing views on the proposal. Trustee Harris opposed a budget increase and said Salt Spring Island should not pay more for trustees representing other islands; Trustee Peterson said remuneration affected who could consider running and supported improvements.^[2]

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