Sidney will stick with Saanich for fire dispatch services for another three months while the Town looks for alternatives.

Facing an almost doubling of costs associated with having the District of Saanich provide fire emergency dispatch services over the next two years, Sidney is now looking for other service providers to keep prices lower.

However, that will take time. Town staff recommended to council recently that Sidney stay with Saanich for another three months ending March 31, 2018, while alternatives are sought for the long term.

Sidney has contracted with the District of Saanich for fire dispatch service for the last 10 years. A five-year renewal period ended on June 30, 2017, just as Saanich was in the middle of a service review, making another long-term renewal not available.

Last month, Saanich met with the municipalities it provides the service to, outlining a new slate of costs that would be passed on, following their external review.

In a letter to the Town of Sidney, SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Chief Administrative Officer Paul Thorkelsson said the review fund that the District has been B次元官网网址渟ignificantly subsidizing this program at varying degrees for each participating agency.B次元官网网址�

Saanich has now decided to charge more for the service, to try to recover its own costs. As a result, , including Esquimalt.

Sidney may join the ranks of other communities to seek other dispatch services with its recent decision.

Councillor Tim Chad said he believes there is B次元官网网址渕uch discussion going on,B次元官网网址� with other municipalities considering their options as well.

Mayor Steve Price, the new chair of the Capital Regional District, noted the CRD B次元官网网址渋s actively looking at consolidating fire dispatch services into one unit using EComm,B次元官网网址� which could aid in any further negotiations with Saanich.

Chad noted that work is yet to come and doesnB次元官网网址檛 have an impact on SidneyB次元官网网址檚 immediate need to dispatch services B次元官网网址� and its search for a new provider.

Sidney council voted to approve the three-month extension, which will cost the Town $12,475 B次元官网网址� equating to what the Town was paying annually for the service, prior to the price change.

Town staff reported that under the new charges by Saanich, Sidney would be paying $20,000 more per year over three years. Staff said they could not support B次元官网网址減aying double for a service, with no incremental functionality.B次元官网网址�