Williams Lake Fringe Fire

Protection Meeting

YOU STILL HAVE

FIRE PROTECTION

SERVICE!

HISTORY

Approximate Residential Tax

Rates Pre-Referendum

• Rural - $190 per $100,000

• City - $63 per $100,000

• Example:

• $300,000 assessment:

– Rural - $570 per year

– City - $189 per year

Approximate Residential Tax

Rates Post-Referendum

• Rural - $129 per $100,000

• City - $72 per $100,000

• Example:

• $300,000 assessment:

– Rural - $387 per year

– City - $217 per year

Tax Rates for Other Rural Fire Departments

Fire Department$'s per

$100,000

Home

($300,000)

108 Mile House Fire Protection $ 47 $ 140

Kersley Fire Protection $ 56 $ 169

Lone Butte Fire Protection $ 64 $ 192

Lac La Hache Fire Protection $ 64 $ 192

Bouchie Lake Fire Protection $ 66 $ 198

Deka Lake Fire Protection $ 64 $ 192

150 Mile House Fire Protection $ 68 $ 204

Wildwood Fire Protection $ 112 $ 336

West Fraser Fire Protection $ 149 $ 447

Miocene Fire Protection $ 171 $ 513

Tax Rates for Other Rural Fire Departments

Fire Department$'s per

$100,000Assessed Value

108 Mile House Fire Protection $ 47 $ 331,035,900

Kersley Fire Protection $ 56 $ 123,938,112

Lone Butte Fire Protection $ 64 $ 201,016,547

Lac La Hache Fire Protection $ 64 $ 150,478,753

Bouchie Lake Fire Protection $ 66 $ 172,046,295

Deka Lake Fire Protection $ 64 $ 134,288,875

150 Mile House Fire Protection $ 68 $ 179,426,894

Wildwood Fire Protection $ 112 $ 79,949,128

West Fraser Fire Protection $ 149 $ 53,081,688

Miocene Fire Protection $ 171 $ 66,560,312

Tax Rates: Fire Protection Service

Provided by Municipalities

Fire Department$'s per

$100,000

Home

($300,000)

Quesnel => Red Bluff Fire Prot. $ 54 $ 162

100 Mile House => 100MH Fringe $ 64 $ 193

Williams Lake => WL Fringe $ 190 $ 570

Comparison of Williams Lake & Quesnel VFD’s

Budget 2012

Expenditure Category Williams Lake Fire Dept. Quesnel Fire Dept.

Operating Costs $ 1,379,290 $ 864,969

Capital Expenditures 111,240 35,000

Debt Servicing 512,500 54,725

Total Expenditures $ 2,003,030 $ 954,694

Comparison of Williams Lake and Quesnel VFD’s

Williams Lake Fire Dept. Quesnel Fire Dept.

Total Expenditures

(2012)$ 2,003,030 $ 954,694

Residential Cost for

Rural Fire Protection/

$100,000

$ 190 $ 54

• Similar levels of full-time paid staff

• Similar population levels

• Similar service areas

• Similar topography

• Similar climates

• Similar structure types

OPTIONS

1. Continue legal action to enforce the current

agreement for the long term as was originally

promised by the City;

2. Negotiate a new contract with the City;

3. Establish a separate fire protection service for the

rural area.

4. No Fire Protection.

OPTION 1 – Continue Legal Action

IF WE WIN:

• Rural residents get service as promised and as per the successful referendum (and pay approximately double what City residents pay).

• Costs will likely continue to increase until we reach the ceiling set by referendum, following which a decision will need to be made to either proceed to another referendum to increase taxes or consider alternatives.

OPTION 1 – continued

IF WE LOSE:

• Ask court to require they deliver service until

we can get alternative in place; or

• Negotiate a new agreement with City and

proceed to a new referendum.

OPTION 1 – continuedCosts expended to date include:

• $9,000 to prepare for and conduct

referendum

• $15,000 to obtain court injunction

• City’s legal costs are unknown

Costs to continue through a full civil action to

have the agreement upheld are unknown.

OPTION 2 – Negotiate a New Contract

PROS:

• The City would continue to deliver fire

protection services.

OPTION 2 - continuedCONS:

• City seeking more than permitted by the referendum – would require a new referendum with associated costs.

• Lack of accountability - no vote for the elected officials that govern the service.

• Lack of input - no vote in any future borrowing.

• Lack of ownership - don’t own any of the assets you’re paying for.

OPTION 2 - continued

COSTS:

• Referendum, while still high, was at least a

formula based on something relatively

neutral.

• It will be difficult to negotiate if the mandate

tonight is to “pay at any cost” but we have no

choice but to have that conversation with you.

OPTION 3 – ESTABLISH A SEPARATE

FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE PROS:

• Rural taxpayers have a voice in the delivery of

the service as they have a voice in who they

elect to represent their interests –

accountability.

• Rural taxpayers have a voice in any future

borrowing.

OPTION 3 – ESTABLISH A SEPARATE

FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE PROS:

• Rural taxpayers own the assets that they pay

for

• Estimated cost is less than $100 per $100,000.

• Same insurance reductions would apply.

OPTION 3 – continued

CONS:

• Manpower to run a fire department must come from you – the residents.

• This can also be a real pro and can build a sense of community and camaraderie, however, at this time, it has the possibility of being the single impediment to making this option the most viable, if sufficient residents do not agree to participate.

OPTION 3 - continued

Why is it so much cheaper for us to do it on our own?

• $7 million fire hall

• Apparatus needed primarily to service large structures as well as commercial/industrial properties (i.e. ladder truck)

• Municipal requirement to provide fire inspections

• Need to be accountable to taxpayers

MANPOWER

Recruit Training:

• 2 hours/week for 25

weeks plus 2 additional

full days (approximately

70 hours to meet Basic

Firefighter certification

level).

MANPOWEROngoing Membership:

• Minimum 15 trained firefighters available to respond to callouts

• Weekly training practices

• Occasional weekend training sessions

• Ability to respond to callouts

2012 Structure Fires & MVIs for:

• 150 Mile VFD = 20 calls

• Wildwood VFD = 24 calls

We Need to Hear From You!• Surveys are available on the tables at both exits. Please pick up a

copy and return it completed by 4:30 p.m., Monday, January 28.

• Completed surveys will be accepted by CRD staff tonight or to our

office;

Cariboo Regional District

180 D North Third Avenue

Williams Lake, BC V2G 2A4

• The survey is available on the CRD website at cariboord.bc.ca or

on Facebook at facebook.com/caribooregion

Thank-you