6 charts that break down the City of Vancouver's finances for last year
The City of Vancouver is expected to approve its 2024 Statement of Financial Information on Wednesday, a 165-page document that outlines exactly how money was spent in the city last year and how much money virtually every politician and employee made.
The yearly disclosure is required by provincial law, and every municipality in B.C. must publicly release their financial statements by June 30. Aside from city hall's budget, it must include the remuneration for every employee, the amount given to different companies for services over $25,000, and the remuneration for every elected official and staff member over $75,000.
As such, there are plenty of stories that come out of the annual statements — not just when they're released but in the weeks and months afterward.
But here are four immediate stories from Vancouver's statement that caught our eye.
A $3 billion city
It was just 20 years ago that Vancouver's revenues eclipsed $1 billion for the first time, and since then, they have steadily risen, with the exception of a one-time pandemic in 2020.
But last year, they went up at a rate never seen before.
For the first time, Vancouver's revenues eclipsed $3 billion in 2024, a $548.5 million increase from 2023.
According to the city, the majority of that increase was due to a $333.3 million increase in developer contributions, which the city attributed to "phased community amenities [and] development cost levies."
Because most of that increase was unplanned, the city recorded an $860,634 annual surplus, continuing a long line of large surpluses that the city reinvests into various contingency funds and capital projects.
Overall, the city's operating expenditures remained similar year over year, with the highest line item going to police protection ($474 million), followed by utilities, parks and recreation, and engineering.
Highest paid employees
Every year, plenty of attention is paid to the city's highest paid employees, but the list is generally quite stable, with the top managers in various departments generally receiving steady increases in their base pay.
So it was again in 2024 in Vancouver, as retiring police Chief Adam Palmer received $487,224, once again the highest in the city.
That was a five per cent increase from his 2023 salary, and his three deputy chiefs were the third to fifth highest paid employees in the city, with city manager Paul Mochrie second at $387,110.
The top 10 paid employees with the city all made more than $300,000, just the second time that has happened.
6-figure councillors
For the first time in Vancouver's history, all sitting councillors received over $100,000 in base compensation for their year in office.
The 10 elected councillors made between $102,674 and $119,749 for their roles, with their base rate of $101,937.68 being augmented by various stints as deputy mayor or acting mayor.
(Those salaries do not include additional compensation for sitting on various Metro Vancouver boards.)
Mayor Ken Sim made $207,958, with $22,756 in local expenses and $28,034 charged for travel and various conferences.
There have been several stories about Sim's travel as mayor, and while the amount he's expensed the city is significantly higher than his predecessor Kennedy Stewart, it's comparable with that of Gregor Robertson, Vancouver's mayor from 2008 to 2018, who re-entered political life this month as a federal candidate for Parliament with the Liberal Party.
A reminder that what goes around in politics often comes around.
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The Province
24-07-2025
- The Province
Departure of Vancouver's top civil servant by 'mutual agreement' surprises many at city hall
Dan Fumano: City councillors from outside Mayor Ken Sim's ABC party said they did not have any insight into the departure of city manager Paul Mochrie, which Sim announced Tuesday. VANCOUVER: Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie, right, and Mayor Ken Sim are pictured at a 2023 press conference at city hall. Photo by Francis Georgian / PNG Vancouver city staff were caught off-guard this week by the sudden departure of the municipality's top civil servant, city manager Paul Mochrie. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The reasons behind Mochrie's exit, after 14 years at city hall and four as city manager, were not immediately clear, but former colleagues described him as highly capable, well-liked by staff, and a consummate public servant. The news was unveiled with a public statement late Tuesday afternoon from Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, who said he and Mochrie had 'mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change.' The announcement set off chatter among surprised current and former city staff, as well as outside observers. After the news broke, city councillors from outside the mayor's ABC party made public statements of support for Mochrie in interviews and on social media. ABC councillors were comparatively quiet, and some of them did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Green Coun. Pete Fry said he was surprised by the news Tuesday and had no information beyond what was in the press release. Fry said he does not know whether Sim already has a replacement city manager in mind, and he does not expect to have visibility or input into the selection process. But Fry's 'worst fear,' he said, is that the mayor will replace Mochrie with 'some kind of Elon Musk, DOGE-type character who wants to run the city like a business,' referring to the billionaire who advised U.S. president Donald Trump and helped implement huge cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Independent Coun. Rebecca Bligh said she had no insight into Mochrie's departure, but said that considering ABC's recent direction for city staff to cut significant spending from the budget in the coming months, and with the city hosting part of the FIFA World Cup tournament in 2026, it is a challenging time for a change in leadership. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This isn't going to be a light workload for the coming year,' Bligh said. 'We don't have a city manager now, and we have a lot on our plate.' Bligh described Mochrie as 'incredibly hard-working' and 'a consummate public servant.' 'I really don't know about what was discussed or decided on between the city manager and the mayor,' Bligh said. Soon after Sim's surprise public announcement Tuesday, Mochrie sent his own email to all city employees. 'Good afternoon all,' Mochrie's email opened. 'As you will have seen from the announcement earlier this afternoon, the time has come for me to move on from the City of Vancouver.' Mochrie's email praised city staff for their 'dedication, talent and professionalism,' and said he was 'profoundly grateful for the support that I have received from so many of you during my time here. Most sincerely, I could not have wished for a better group of colleagues.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mochrie's email did not include any reference to what he might do next. He closed with: 'As you continue your work in support of council and this remarkable city that is my home, please know I am rooting for you.' Approached Wednesday at city hall, Sim said it was too early to say whether he had a potential replacement or list of candidates in mind. Sim declined to say what he is looking for in the city's next chief civil servant, but said he has a 'scorecard' of roles, responsibilities and qualities, 'and the best person who can achieve that standard, that'd be the person that we would hire.' 'We're looking for the best person who can take this city, and take it to the next level,' Sim said. Vancouver City Manager Paul Mochrie at Vancouver City Hall in Vancouver, BC, December 5, 2023. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Sim said while outsiders might speculate, he emphasized this was a 'mutual agreement,' and he wanted to 'celebrate the fact that Paul is a great person, who served our city well for 14 years and I wish him the best in the future.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In September 2021, Mochrie's immediate predecessor, Sadhu Johnston, announced his own plan to resign from the job early the following year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. By contrast, Mochrie's departure was first announced publicly by Sim, on Mochrie's final official day with the city. From the outside, it seems like Sim 'certainly participated in this decision with Paul Mochrie, if not initiated it,' said former Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs. 'And my hunch is that he initiated it.' 'I think the bottom line is the mayor has decided to change the city manager, so what's his plan?' said Meggs, who worked closely with Mochrie for several years. 'If you're going to terminate a city manager, you presumably have an alternative in mind. My expectation is that Mayor Sim does have somebody else in mind, we just don't know who that is yet.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tuesday marked Mochrie's final official day with the city, a city spokesperson said, but 'as part of the terms of his departure, it was agreed Paul would provide a reasonable level of support to (former deputy city manager and now acting city manager) Karen Levitt on an as-needed basis.' Mochrie declined an interview Wednesday, but said in an emailed statement: 'It has been a privilege to spend the past 14 years at the City of Vancouver, although I am excited to move on. There is an extremely capable leadership team in place and the organization is very well positioned to support council in delivering results for residents and businesses.' Mochrie is the most recent senior executive to have departed the City of Vancouver during the first three years of ABC Vancouver's first term in office. Vancouver's chief planner, chief financial officer, chief librarian and park board general manager have all left for other jobs since the 2022 election. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mochrie was Vancouver's highest paid employee other than the police chief last year, earning $387,110 in 2024, according to city records. The city did not answer questions about the circumstances of Mochrie's departure including whether he will receive severance pay, calling it a 'confidential human resources matter.' Former mayor Gregor Robertson replaced longtime city manager Judy Rogers in 2008 with Penny Ballem, and then replaced Ballem in 2015 with Johnston. Ballem and Rogers were paid severance of $556,000 and $572,000, respectively. Mochrie was confirmed as city manager in April 2021, eight months after Johnston's departure was announced and following an international candidate search and recruitment process by an executive search firm. There is no set timeline for Mochrie's replacement, the city spokesperson said, but the mayor, city manager's office, and chief human resources officer 'will be advancing a process over the coming weeks to bring on board a permanent city manager.' with files from David Carrigg dfumano@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Soccer Vancouver Canucks News
CBC
23-07-2025
- CBC
Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie steps down
Social Sharing The City of Vancouver is looking for a new manager. Mayor Ken Sim announced Tuesday that Paul Mochrie would be leaving his role as city manager, after more than four years in the job, and a decade before that in other senior roles with the city. "Paul and I mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change," Sim said in a statement. "We thank Paul for his 14 years of dedicated service, including the last four as city manager, and wish him nothing but success in the future." As city manager, Mochrie oversaw Vancouver's nearly 10,000 employees, with the heads of various departments reporting to his office. While the city manager role is non-political, that position is the liaison between city council and staff. Mochrie, who was deputy city manager when he replaced Sadhu Johnston in the role in 2021, made $387,110 last year, the most of any city employee other than now-retired, former Vancouver Police Department chief Adam Palmer. Sim's statement said that Mochrie would assist with a transition, and that Deputy City Manager Karen Levitt would become acting city manager while the city hired a permanent replacement. 'He was good about clarifying tradeoffs' Adriane Carr, who served on council from 2011 until this year under three different city managers, had high praise for Mochrie. "Paul was great at actually levelling with council in terms of if you go this way, these will be the potential repercussions," she said. "He had the right people explaining things and answering questions from council on issues. Ultimately, of course, council makes the decisions on the heavy-duty things, including budgets … but he was good about clarifying tradeoffs." While details of Mochrie's departure weren't made public, city managers — or "chief administrative officers, as they're known in most municipalities — serve at the pleasure of the mayor and council. While Sim praised the work of senior staff prior to being elected mayor in 2022, it's not uncommon for changes in government to bring a change in the head of the civil service, as was the case in 2008 when Vancouver's longtime city manager Judy Rogers was let go immediately after Vision Vancouver and Mayor Gregor Robertson swept to power. But Carr said prior to her resignation, she saw a healthy working relationship between Sim and senior staff. "[Sim] was very good at setting up as many briefings and meetings with senior staff as we wanted as council, and that's really sound management." At the same time, she said she hoped whoever replaced Mochrie would continue to point out tradeoffs to council about their decisions, specifically citing Sim's enthusiasm around the city investing in bitcoin. "When you have a majority council with some very strong ideas about directions to go in, it's going to take an exceptional person to be able to say yes, you have a majority on council, but let me just spell out possible negative outcomes and risks if we go in the direction you're suggesting," she said.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- CTV News
‘Right time for a leadership change': Vancouver city manager stepping down
Outgoing Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie is seen in this photo from the city's website. ( Paul Mochrie, who has been Vancouver's city manager since April 2021, is leaving the role, the city announced in a brief statement Tuesday. 'Paul and I mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change,' said Mayor Ken Sim, in the statement. 'We thank Paul for his 14 years of dedicated service, including the last four as city manager, and wish him nothing but success in the future.' Deputy city manager Karen Levitt has been named acting city manager, and Mochrie has 'agreed to assist with the transition,' the city said. According to his biography on the city's website, Mochrie began working for the city in 2011 as general manager of human resource services. He became deputy city manager in 2015 and took on the role of acting city manager in January 2021, before moving into the role permanently. Vancouver's online data portal shows Mochrie earned $387,110 in salary and other remuneration in 2024.
