Democracy comes at a cost, and in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, that cost in 2021 came to $563,083.
The figure is the remuneration paid to the 33 directors and alternate directors during the year. In addition, members of the regional district board claimed a total of $12,327 in expenses during the year.
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The figures are included in the Statement of Financial Information, a public document released by all local governments by the end of June of each year.
Karla Kozakevich, chair for much of the year and then a director for the board, received $68,202 in compensation over the year. She was the highest-paid of the members of the board.
Mark Pendergraft, a director who replaced Kozakevich as chair in the fall, received $42,230.
For the rest of the directors and alternates, remuneration varied widely.
George Bush, Robert Coyne, Riley Gettens, Rick Knodel, Subrina Monteith and Timothy Roberts each received more than $35,000 over the past year, while Ronald Obirek was close to that amount, with a remuneration of $34,981.
These directors were all elected to represent the various electoral areas within the regional district.
Those who were appointed by the communities of Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos and Princeton received lower compensation, between $16,000 and $19,000.
Princeton mayor Spencer Coyne, who also serves as vice-chair on the board, received $24,976.
For alternate directors, the compensation ranged from $325 to $1,519, depending on the number of meetings they attended.
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