The amount of property tax going to fire protection for homeowners in Valemount and District will rise by 25 per cent next year.
Fraser-Fort George Regional District directors approved the increase on Thursday. The hike will amount to $50,970, raise the total requisition to $254,850, and translate into a rise of $7.80 per $100,000 assessed value, according to a report from staff.
"Budget pressures from inflation, capital purchase requirements, and asset management have resulted in the current requisition amount not providing sustainable funding for the fire protection service in order to maintain current service levels," staff said in the report.
The fire department serves the Village of Valemount and a portion of Electoral Area H surrounding the Village. That firefighters must also deal with fires in "complex structures such as hotels, commercial structures and critical infrastructure, has resulted in an urgent need to proceed with the bylaw amendment to increase the maximum allowable requisition."
Valemount director Owen Torgerson said he would have preferred smaller increases over the years "versus a compounded 25 per cent every period." But he said the increase is still an "absolute necessity."
"I believe the residents will certainly understand the need of a) up-to-date equipment and b) the safety of our fire department," Torgerson said.
McBride and Valemount firefighters to get advance payment of wages
Firefighters based in the McBride and Valemount won't have to wait for reimbursemnt from the provincial government for time lost while helping to combat the wildfire in Jasper.
Directors approved Thursday an advance payment of wages to come out of reserve funds for the respective services.
"These are folks that are leaving their full-time jobs in order to mutually aid a neighbour," Torgerson said, and added reimbursements from the province will take a bit more time because the fire occurred in a national park in another province.
Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe) director Danielle Alan echoed the comments.
"I don't think it's fair to our volunteer firefighters to go without wages or without compensation for the dangerous and essential work that they do while the provinces get their act together," Alan said.
