Cariboo Regional District

Building Communities Together

 

2008 Business Plan

108 Mile Fire Protection (1321)

 

Rowena Bastien, Manager of Protective Services

                  

 

Working in partnership with communities, large and small, to make the Cariboo Chilcotin a socially, environmentally, and economically desirable region to live, work and play.

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Department/Function Services

 

The 108 Mile Volunteer Fire Department, authorized by Bylaw No. 3259, was established as a function of the Cariboo Regional District in 1974 by means of a referendum assented to by the property owners within the local service area. 108 Mile fire protection is funded by a taxation rate applied against the assessed value of land and improvements within the local service area. The maximum taxation rate that can be collected is the greater of $200,000or $1.34/$1000 of assessed value.

 

Currently the 108 Mile VFD offers fire protection services, along with first responder and ice rescue services within the fire protection area.

 

As Electoral Area “G” Director Al Richmond is the only stakeholder, and the Local Government Act requires more than one vote, the entire Board is responsible for the governance of this service.

 

Business Plan Goals, Rationale & Strategies

 

2008 Goals

 

1.         Goal:  Initiate upgrades to the fire hall exterior.

Rationale:  Building maintenance.

Strategy:  Get cost estimates and quotes and use operational and/or capital dollars.

 

2.         Goal:  Acquire a first responder vehicle.

Rationale:  A smaller vehicle dedicated to increasing first responder calls will use less gas and result in less wear on fire apparatus as well as leave fire apparatus available for fire calls.

Strategy:  Plan to lease over 5 years with annual review as to possible early payout.

 

3.         Goal:  Establish an operational reserve fund.

Rationale:  Reserve of operational dollars to be used for large operational expenditures that were historically saved for as, and purchased with, capital reserve funds.

Strategy:  Budget and allocate funds to a reserve maximum of $25,000.

 

4.         Goal:  Produce a volunteer fire department brochure.

Rationale:  To produce a generic fire department brochure that contains information about services provided by CRD VFD’s as well as recruitment, training, fire smart and other pertinent fire and safety information.

Strategy:  Work with all CRD VFD’s to share and reduce the cost of producing one generic brochure that can be used by all departments.

 

2017 Goal

 

1.         Goal:  Tender for replacement of 1990 Engine truck.

Rationale:  1990 truck will be 25 years old and need to be replaced.

Strategy:  Use capital reserve funds to make substantial down payment and lease balance over 5-years.

 

Overall Financial Impact

 

The financial plan for 2008 reflects a budget increase of $4,852.00 over and above approved inflationary increases.

 

This increase will provide for the following projected increases: $2000 in callout costs, $381 for utilities, $75 heat/fuel, and a portion of the budgeted $6000 for SCBA purchases. In 2007 this department paid out the leased funds used to purchase property in 2006. In 2008 the department will enter into a five year lease agreement for the purchase of a first responder vehicle. Transfers to the capital reserve funds will continue; however, this fund will need to be closely monitored to ensure sufficient funds are available to afford the future replacement of the primary engine. Based on requisitions and expenditures identified in the 2008 financial plan, the estimated balance in capital reserves as at December 31, 2016 will be $156,521.00. 

 

Significant Issues & Trends

 

This department has experienced a significant increase in call volumes due to first responder services. The department is also working to increase and expand training opportunities by taking advantage of the training facility located in 100 Mile House. The close proximity of the facility will reduce training travel costs enabling an increase in the number of members able to participate in what was previously unavailable to most due to required travel in terms of both time and money.

 

Measuring Previous Years’ Performance

 

Goal:   Rebuild capital reserve funds.

- Capital reserve funds were required in 2007 to pay for projects completed in 2006 but not billed until 2007. In spite of this amendment to the 2007 financial plan, the anticipated capital reserve balance for December 31, 2007 is $41,282.00.