By Cheryl Jahn

Still no budget numbers

Jan 21, 2025 | 8:39 AM

PRINCE GEORGE- Despite hours of discussion, no final numbers on what tax hike Prince George homeowners will be looking at this year.

During a recent Finance and Audit meeting, Administration learned that a hike of 5.83 per cent is in the offing, with plenty of attention put into protective services, which includes police protection, fire services, bylaw services and emergency services. Those account for 37.4 per cent of the overall operational budget of $177.5 million dollars.

But Mayor Simon Yu called that figure “unsustainable,”

“But having said that, public safety is Number One.”

The proposed budget for RCMP services is $38.8 million dollars.

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Administration noted that, while there are 153 officers, the City funds to 139 officers.

There are also 57 City staff to provide support services for the RCMP.

There is an enhancement request in both areas, with Superintendent Darin Rappel asking for four additional officers at a cost of $906,064, or 0.65%, in addition to the 5.83% being proposed. If approved, those additional officers would be dedicated to schools.

But Councillor Trudy Klassen questioned Supt. Rappel about Crown Counsel’s reluctance to follow through with charges when they are forwarded by police.

“If we add more officers, is it going to make a difference?”

The RCMP is also asking three additional support staff, prioritizing the request for an Assistant Manager of Operations. If approved, that enhancement would cost an additional $328,904, or 0.24%, of the total increase.

Prince George Fire Rescue looking to add to its budget to the tune of $732,122 for the additional five firefighters, or 0.53%.

Fire Chief Cliff Warner told Council the original request was going to be for 10 additional firefighters to meet the National Fire Protection Association’s standards, which sets out response times, etc. But “in the interests of fiscal responsibility,” he pared the request by half.

Mayor Yu brought up the likelihood of this city facing wildfire.

“Is wildfire just a matter of time, or is it preventable?”

Chief Warner noted that there have been vast improvements to wildfire protection measures.

“I do believe the response to medical calls should be reduced,” noted Councillor Cori Ramsay, noting the municipality may have to bring in additional capacity to ensure the department can cover fire protection while taking on something that falls under provincial jurisdiction.

“It is no secret that fire departments are backstopping the ambulance service,” said Councillor Kyle Sampson, who pledges alongside other Councillors to pursue more attention on the issue to the Province.

Other discussions include the emergency services, which covers off emergency preparedness.

Once again citing provincial downloading, Councillor Sampson said he will propose cutting the budget by a third, roughly $123,000.

“This budget has grown massively since it was created in 2017. EMCR [Emergency Management and Climate Readiness] has some responsibility here.”

He also proposed cutting the Bylaw Services budget by $210,000, citing the amount of work being done that falls under provincial purview. That notion was supported by Councillors Ramsay, Klassen and Ron Polillo.

Still yet to be discussed are more than twenty-two additional budgets, including the snow control and roads budgets. They have yet to be hashed out, despite nine hours of budget deliberations.

The second round of discussions takes place on Wednesday, beginning at 1 pm.