PITT MEADOWS, BC – Pitt Meadows City Council unanimously approved the addition of nine career firefighters, which includes two lieutenants, six firefighters and one training officer. This investment in Fire and Rescue Services will cost $95 per year or $7.90 per month for the average single-family home. The recruitment of nine firefighters will commence in December with the goal of additional firefighters being in place in early 2023.
“We recognize the importance of providing the safest fire services model for the community and our firefighters,” says Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “This is a significant investment in our essential services and in enhancing community safety. These additional full-time firefighters result in a critical model shift from the current structure that has a high reliance on our Paid-On-Call members to a model with primary dependence on career firefighters. This model shift ensures that Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service will have fire and rescue coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week.”
Business Plans were presented to Council on November 28 and November 29, which proposed a budget increase of $175 dollars or 4.71 percent for the average single-family home as needed to maintain existing City service levels. The proposed budget plus the approval of the nine new firefighters amounts to a proposed combined $270 increase for the average single-family home or 7.26 percent. This excludes any additional decisions to be made by Council during budget deliberations.
The proposed $270 increase is broken down as follows:
Major cost pressures come from:
- Non-discretionary charges related to Metro Vancouver water and sewage treatment, RCMP policing costs, as well as supply chain and high inflationary pressures; all of which account for $133 or a 3.58% of the total increase.
- Asset Savings account for $48 or 1.3%, providing $13 million towards future replacement of aging infrastructure and ensuring long-term sustainability.
This leaves $27 or 0.72% for all other City departments to maintain existing service levels.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of the proposed 2023 Budget, watch the November 28 and 29 business plan presentations at pittmeadows.ca/councilmeetings. Learn more about the proposed 2023 budget and business plans at pittmeadows.ca/budget. Council will deliberate on this proposed budget as well as a variety of decision packages presented by staff on December 13 and 14.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca