Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover has voted in favour of a pay raise.

(Hanover Reeve Stan Toews)Last year, the federal government announced council members will no longer have one-third of their pay tax-free. This has prompted many local councils to raise their indemnities.

Hanover Reeve Stan Toews says after checking in with their auditor and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), they decided to increase their pay by 15 per cent. He notes this should cover off the portion that was previously exempt.

"It's basically a wash," explains Toews "So take home pay will be pretty much the same, depending exactly what bracket you fit into."

Toews says according to AMM, the 15 per cent increase is right in the middle of what most municipalities are doing.