Niagara-on-the-Lake spent almost $314,000 on council pay, benefits and expenses in 2025, with Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa’s reported total reaching almost $66,000.
The town paid its nine council members $219,150 in wages and honorariums, $74,056 in employer contributions and benefits and $20,787 for conferences, travel and a councillor’s cellphone costs.
Council unanimously received the annual remuneration report Tuesday.
Zalepa received $55,949 in wages and honorariums, including a $54,129 salary and a $70 vehicle allowance every pay period. Benefits and expenses pushed his total to $65,968, the highest on council.
Councillors received annual salaries of $20,400.
Coun. Erwin Wiens had the highest overall total among councillors at $35,425, including a council-high $5,874 for conferences and events.
Coun. Maria Mavridis followed at $33,248 and Coun. Andrew Niven at $33,144.
Coun. Sandra O’Connor recorded the lowest overall councillor total at $28,275, followed by Coun. Gary Burroughs at $28,696 and Coun. Wendy Cheropita at $28,938.
Coun. Tim Balasiuk’s total was $29,721, while Coun. Adriana Vizzari’s was $30,579. Vizzari was the only councillor reimbursed for cellphone costs, receiving $840.
The totals include wages and honorariums, Canada Pension Plan contributions, Employer Health Tax, workplace insurance, health, dental, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, conference and event costs, mileage, travel and cellphone expenses.
Conference and event expenses varied sharply, from $100 for Vizzari to $5,874 for Wiens.
The roughly $314,000 council total does not include separate payments Zalepa and Vizzari received for serving on the NOTL Hydro board. Zalepa received $3,767, while Vizzari received $3,963.
