Full-time firefighters line item up for grabs tonight

Posted January 21, 2013

New Tecumseth councillors resume 2013 budget deliberations tonight immediately following the scheduled council meeting, staring at a bottom line that if passed as is, would hike the municipal portion of property taxes by $123 over last year.

The total tax levy would climb to approximately $23 million, an increase of $1.7 million or 8.36 per cent over last year after growth in assessment is factored in. When the County and Education taxes are included, the overall average property tax bill settles in at $115 or 3.7 per cent more than 2012.

Last week councillors, at least the majority, voted in favour of booking $303,324 in the budget to hire six full-time firefighters (Mon-Fri, 42 hour per week day shifts). On its own, the impact is approximately a 1.5 per cent hit on the levy hike. It's expected to be one of tonight's more active debates with two options fighting to emerge. The first will be a suggested phase-in, which could see three firefighters hired in 2013, and three more in 2014.

The other action expected is a move to see the full-time expenditure removed entirely from the budget, as not necessary. It's also a nod to the inner lobbying taking place from part-time members of the New Tecumseth Fire Rescue Service, who oppose the full-time option.

Currently, only the administration is full-time - chief, deputy, safety officer, and an administrative assistant. There are 105 part-time firefighters: Station 1 Alliston, 30; Station 2 Beeton, 35; and Station 3 Tottenham, 40.

The main justification for the full-time additions is to ensure there are a minium of four firefighters who can respond immediately to an emergency call during day time business hours. Part-time responders in many cases work out of town, and those locally, also rely on their employers to let them leave their jobs to attend a call.

New Tecumseth council is scheduled to ratify the final budget on Feb. 11.

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