The Saint John Police Association is responding to the mayor’s claim that first class Saint John police officers make $135,000 when you factor in pension and benefits.
Association President Duane Squires says it’s misleading to include the value of pensions and benefits because every police force has them noting a first class Constable in Saint John makes $85,000 while the same officer in Halifax makes more than $95,000.
He says for the mayor to add pension costs and benefits to the first class wage rates is an attempt to distort the factual comparisons.
Bob Davidson of the New Brunswick Police Association quotes the report on municipal property taxes issued by Harry Kitchen and Enid Slack which says the real problems in Saint John are related to the unfair taxation issues noting Councillor David Merrithew said it’s important to know how we got where we are right now.
He says the report states property tax revenue from oil refineries is a major issue in the City of Saint John.
Davidson mentioned the “sweetheart” deal the City made relating to the Canaport LNG project where the city only receives $500,000 a year in property tax revenue.
He says this removed more than $82 million from the taxpayers of Saint John that could have benefited the City in many ways including the reduction of 16 police officers over 11 years.
