Halifax Regional Municipality’s compensation disclosure list of all employees who earn more than $100,000, was released on Wednesday. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentThere’s more sunshine this year than ever.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentHalifax released its sunshine list, or, more officially, the compensation disclosure of all employees who earn over $100,000, on Wednesday.Article contentArticle contentIt’s a practice that started a decade ago, and Halifax Regional Municipality releases the list every summer. This spreadsheet of names and numbers from the past fiscal year prompts a lot of questions: Who made the most, and are more people cracking into this list than last year?Article contentArticle contentWho earned the most?Article contentThe very top paid position on the list — earning far above the others — is unexpected.Article contentHalifax Regional Police Const. Kevin Johnson received $692,387. Since his wages are listed as $0 and his earnings are in the benefits column, it appears that Johnson was injured. He did not appear on the 2025 sunshine list.Article contentWhen asked for confirmation, an HRM spokesperson said Thursday: “This is a confidential personnel matter and therefore I’m not able to offer comment.”Article content Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean speaks to reporters on Sept. 17, 2024. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentWhat are the people in key positions making?Article contentAuditor general Andrew Atherton pulled in over $212,000, and chief financial officer Jerry Blackwood received $244,206 (both include benefits).Article contentMayor Andy Fillmore earned $212,337 with benefits, and Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean brought home $244,380.Article contentFormer fire chief Dave Meldrum earned over $265,000. His replacement, Deryn Rizzi, started this week.Article contentArticle contentArticle content Marnie Cluckie starts her new job as chief administrative officer of Halifax on Sept. 23. Photo by HRMArticle contentGeneral Manager of Halifax Water Kena MacKenzie earned over $275,000 with benefits.Article contentArticle contentHow does this compare to last year?Article contentThe Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the number of people earning over $100,000 has more than doubled over the last decade. There were over 1,300 names on that list in 2025. In 2026, 1,665 people are making over $100,000.Article content“At a time when families are already stretched thin, city hall should be looking for savings, not bigger tax bills,” said Devin Drover, the group’s Atlantic director and general counsel, in a statement during municipal budget season in April.Article content“Council needs to get spending under control and start with the top.”Article contentThe budget passed this spring with an increase of 9.5 per cent to the municipal portion of the average tax bill. Fillmore’s request to cut municipal wages by up to seven per cent over three years was rejected by the budget committee in February.Article contentCouncillors earn $107,513.Article contentWhat positions are paying the most?Article contentDepartment directors and lawyers are obviously among the top earners, but so are police captains and sergeants.Article contentMore than 15 police sergeants and captains and over a dozen fire district chiefs and captains earn over $200,000. There were also a handful of police constables who earned over that mark.Article contentThe most recent compensation list includes all overtime, retirement or severance payments and covers the fiscal year ending March 31.Article content
Halifax sunshine list: Who made more than $100,000 working for city hall this year?
