The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has released its 2024 financial statements, revealing a continued rise in spending and remuneration across the organization as the regional district juggles a growing slate of capital projects, planning initiatives and emergency management demands.
Total expenses for the year reached $19.5 million, an increase of nearly $1.1 million over 2023 and $3.4 million higher than in 2022.
Remuneration for SLRD employees saw a noticeable jump, with $5.15 million paid out in wages, taxable benefits, and expenses in 2024, up from $4.55 million in 2023 and $3.91 million in 2022.
Board costs also trending up
Payments to the SLRD board of directors and alternates also rose, with $358,631 in total remuneration and expenses reported in 2024, compared to $322,508 in 2023 and $290,109 in 2022.
Board chair Jen Ford earned $39,739 in remuneration, with vice-chair Vivian Birch-Jones close behind at $36,803.
Notably, director expenses increased by nearly 37 per cent in 2024, rising to $48,276 from $35,338 in 2023. Director Sal DeMare (Area A) reported the highest board expenses at $15,608—a figure Birch-Jones noted during the meeting was exceptional among directors largely due to his shouldering the expenses associated with driving during carpools.
Directors DeMare and Laurie Hopf both suggested future SOFI reports include breakdowns of where expenses went to help inform the public.
Ford added that more clearly outlining expenses can help the SLRD accurately budget for director expenses in the years ahead. She cited the example of needing hotels for Lillooet directors to prevent their driving back and forth, particularly during winter time when meetings occur two days in a row.
The SLRD’s financial support to partner organizations and local governments continued to rise, hitting $5 million in 2024—up from $4.53 million in 2023.
Notable recipients in 2024 included the Village of Pemberton ($1.65 million), District of Squamish ($1.44 million), Pemberton & District Public Library ($409,109), and the Lillooet and Area Public Library Association ($327,824).
The district’s supplier costs show a significant year-over-year expansion. In 2024, the SLRD paid $11.4 million to suppliers with payments exceeding $25,000, up from $9 million in 2023.
More top earners
A total of 33 employees earned more than $75,000 in 2024. Chief administrative officer Heather Paul once again led the pack with $201,513 in remuneration and $12,374 in expenses, for a total compensation of $213,887.
The SLRD’s report notes employee totals include vacation payouts, taxable benefits and retroactive pay increases—not just base salary. Further, expense figures cover costs such as training, event registrations, travel and professional accreditation.
Squamish director Chris Pettingill questioned whether there were any efforts to raise the $75,000 threshold for having an SLRD employee’s name and pay published in the annual financial report—particularly given the threshold was set in 2002 and hasn’t been adjusted to match inflation.
Ford cited two previous Union of BC Municipalities resolutions in 2019 to address the issue. One, to omit an employee’s name and just attribute the wages to the job title, and another to raise the threshold for disclosure to a yet-to-be-determined figure. Those resolutions, Ford said, “probably went into a long list of things for UBCM staff to negotiate with the province on.”
“We still want the transparency, we still want to be accountable to the public, but in small towns it can be really problematic for privacy and security,” said Ford of the issue.
The full 2024 financial disclosure document is available for public inspection through the SLRD website and office, as required under the Financial Information Act.
