Municipal government salaries vary widely in Saskatchewan

The paychequesmayors and councillorsin Saskatchewan bring home vary by tens of thousands of dollars.

The salaries don't necessarily reflect the size of the cities.

Yorkton, for instance, calculates its mayor's salary as 75 per cent of an MLA'spaycheque, adjusted annually;councillors'are set at 30 per cent of that.

Saskatoon and Reginahave councillor salaries that differ by nearly $20,000 despite being similar in size and both considering the gig part-time.

I don't think people truly understand the amount of work that's involved in being a citycouncillor.- Tiffany Paulsen, Saskatoon city councillor

Regina Coun.Shawn Fraser told CBC Radio'sBlue Skyin September that he thinks the required elements of the job are doable on a part-time basis.

But longtime Saskatoon Counc.Tiffany Paulsen told the show, "it's a full-time job for sure".

"I don't think people truly understand the amount of work that's involved in being a city councillor," she said.

Paulsen added she thinks most councillor candidates"severely underestimate" the amount of work that's involved, which is much more than attending council meetings. It includes reading thousands of pages in reports, sitting on committees, attending public consultations and being available to constituents.

Fraser said he triesto set aside two hours a day for correspondence alone.

After 16 years on city council, Paulsen has chosen not to run again. She said the demanding schedule, which meant little sleep and time with her family, influenced her decision.