By Brandie Majeau
The Town of Redwater operates a user-pay system for fire response costs. This
means that individuals who require fire services will receive a bill for the response. This
system ensures that the costs are covered by those who use the service rather than
spreading the expense across all taxpayers. Here’s a breakdown of how it works and
why it’s important:
The budget will cover essential operational costs to ensure the fire department is
always prepared to respond to emergencies. These include professional fees,
insurance, goods and supplies, repairs and maintenance, vehicle expenses, and
utilities. This covers not only equipment but also the maintenance of the fire department
building. While ensuring that the service is readily available to those in need is crucial,
the Town of Redwater must also consider the cost of fire response services.
Additionally, the local fire department responds to calls outside the city limits to ensure
that surrounding areas receive necessary assistance in emergencies. The question then
arises: should these costs be charged to the taxpayers? In 2024, it is anticipated that
$10,500 will be spent on user fees related to fire calls, showcasing the importance of
the user-pay system in effectively managing our budget. This system helps keep taxes
lower while ensuring that those who require fire response services contribute to
covering the associated costs.
Consider this: if the town absorbed fire response costs into the general budget, it
could lead to significant tax increases for all residents. For instance, a $30,000 increase
in costs would result in a 1% tax hike. This includes the hours spent on the equipment,
water usage, responders, and more. However, with a user-pay system in place, only
those who use the service are billed, preventing such tax hikes.
In 2024, they projected $10,500 in user fees related to fire calls. It’s important to
note that this projection is specifically for in-town calls. As Sturgeon County handles the
fire department and would bill for responses outside corporate limits, this user-pay
system effectively manages our budget. It helps keep taxes lower while ensuring that
individuals who require fire response services cover the associated costs.
The fire department’s response to a structure fire includes pumper trucks, water
trucks, and command vehicles. Based on rates set by the Government of Alberta, the
total cost for such a response is approximately $4,410 per hour. The actual costs may
vary depending on the specific situation.
This underscores the importance of insurance. While individual insurance
policies likely cover repairs or replacement of the home in the event of a fire, as well as
the contents of the home, it’s crucial to determine if they also cover fire department
charges and firefighting expenses. It’s essential to contact personal insurance
companies to understand the coverage in the event of a fire, and to ensure that fire
department charges are covered by individual policies to avoid residents being left with
an out-of-pocket bill for response costs.
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