Halifax sunshine list reveals top city earners for the 1st time

More than 600 city employees earned a six-figure income last year, according to the first published list of the highest paid municipal workers in Halifax.

Last November, city council voted to release the "sunshine list" — a tally of all municipal workers who earn at least $100,000.

The list will now be released annually, beginning with the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2016.

Richard Butts, Halifax's former chief administrative officer earned the most: $346,336. Butts resigned from the position in December and was replaced by John Traves who earned $218,664 for his role as municipal solicitor and acting CAO. 

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage is the 15th highest earner, making $175,697.

The bulk of the list — 508 of the 665 top earners — are members of the Halifax police or fire services. 

Halifax residents reported earning on average $46,131 in total income and benefits in 2014, the most recent data available from Statistics Canada.

The release of the list comes at tense time for the city, with contract negotiations underway between managers and a union representing 300 workers who care for many of Halifax's outdoor public spaces.

Ninety per cent of those workers voted to reject the city's latest offer, which included annual 1.5 per cent wage increases for the next four years.

Earlier this month, the city gave notice to the Department of Labour of its intent to lock out employees. However, municipal staff said this was standard practice following a union's strike mandate vote.

"It is not our intention to proactively lock out workers unless it becomes necessary to do so," municipal spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said last Thursday.