Ste. Anne Town Council passed first and second reading to a bylaw that would increase council's pay to compensate for the loss of a federal tax perk.

Until this year, one-third of the pay to members of municipal council was tax-free but the federal government has removed that break starting next year.

Councillors would now be making $11,600 annually and the mayor $14,500, which according to Chief Administrative Officer Marc Darker, comes out to an increase of about $2,000.

Mayor Richard Pelletier says this is not a flat out raise but simply compensating for a tax break that is being taken away.

"It's basically just to be up to date with the same amount of money that they take home," Pelletier notes, "so each one of us are not taking home more, we're just making it the way it used to be."

Pelletier says compared to many other municipalities, the Town of Ste. Anne has one of the lowest compensated councils in the province. "we're trying not to fall too far behind for the future and other councils."

First and second readings of the indemnities by-law were passed unanimously.