Breaking up a functional, well managed fire department has huge costs. To measure the magnitude of the costs to taxpayers I have made some inquiries to a home insurance agent. These are the facts collected.
An average home valued at $240,000 was used for comparison. The annual cost of fire insurance for such home is as follows:
An average home valued at $240,000 was used for comparison. The annual cost of fire insurance for such home is as follows:
Fully protected community annual insurance rate:--->$687.00
Semi protected community annual insurance rate: ->$1,400.00
Unprotected community annual insurance rate:---->$3,000.00+
Should our volunteer firemen decide that their services are not appreciated and resign those are the kind of rates residents of Coldstream would face. Did Council and Administration investigate the consequences of their foolish (or insane) action? Probably not or they likely would not have acted the way they did.
The alternative would not be much cheaper. Hiring a full time brigade of firemen would cost likely about $1.5 million annually. Presently 1% tax increase equates to about $30,000, thus $1.5 million additional expenditure for fire protection would amount to about a 50% tax increase.
Full time firemen would also require additional accommodations in the fire halls. we are in the process of completing two brand new fire halls. Updating those to the new requirements would cost further $$$$.
Those new firemen would have to be found or trained. They would be fully unionized where controls would be even more restricted than what it is with volunteers.
Should I go on? I think you all got the picture. Contact your council members and try to talk some sense into them. Good luck or open your valets!
The alternative would not be much cheaper. Hiring a full time brigade of firemen would cost likely about $1.5 million annually. Presently 1% tax increase equates to about $30,000, thus $1.5 million additional expenditure for fire protection would amount to about a 50% tax increase.
Full time firemen would also require additional accommodations in the fire halls. we are in the process of completing two brand new fire halls. Updating those to the new requirements would cost further $$$$.
Those new firemen would have to be found or trained. They would be fully unionized where controls would be even more restricted than what it is with volunteers.
Should I go on? I think you all got the picture. Contact your council members and try to talk some sense into them. Good luck or open your valets!
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