Metchosin reached into full pockets, to fill in an empty one.
Recognizing the need to build a new fire hall in the next five to 10 years, Metchosin has climbed into its Fire Equipment Replacement Reserve and their Snow and Storm Operations Reserve to provide a $200,000 injection into its Building Replacement Reserve. The funds are earmarked for a new hall to replace the aging facility built for $350,000 in 1960.
B次元官网网址�(We have) identified all our requirements for the next 50 years, so we have various reserve funds for various things, and we figure we donB次元官网网址檛 need the amount in the equipment (budget),B次元官网网址� said Mayor John Ranns. B次元官网网址淭he only building we will think we will need to build in the next decade would be the fire hall.B次元官网网址�
The community has replaced all fire equipment needed and because of mild winters, their Snow and Storm Operations Reserve sat sufficiently stocked to make the reallocation of reserve funds a relatively seamless decision. Ranns said their pay-as-you-go model has led to Metchosin being one of few municipalities without debt.
B次元官网网址淲e can do this because weB次元官网网址檙e a rural municipality. IB次元官网网址檓 not pointing the finger and saying to urban ones, B次元官网网址榶ou should do what we do,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e able to do it because we know there wonB次元官网网址檛 be significant growth, so what we build will last. We can accurately predict what it will cost.B次元官网网址�
There is no exact timeline for building a new fire hall, but Ranns said it would only happen when there was enough money to build it. The same with any future infrastructure, maintenance or upgrades. With Metchosin bringing in only about $1.5 million in taxes annually, he said, their frugality is born out of necessity.
B次元官网网址淚 was elected in 1987 and maybe I have the benefit of B次元官网网址榖een there, done that,B次元官网网址� but I have lived through high interest rates and itB次元官网网址檚 tough,B次元官网网址� he said.
Despite being the second largest municipality in the West Shore geographically, they have no curbs and gutters, and their public works department is three people. With only a handful of key municipal staff, and a model of using contractors in lieu of most staff, the municipality has eliminated many of the expenditures other municipalities incur, in part to ensure the viability of keeping their community exactly what it is.
B次元官网网址淣o one is going to say they are going to take down all those condos and put a farm there B次元官网网址� But we have to worry about (the opposite) and be on guard all the time. We fear the urban mindset,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f we are going to maintain rural sustainability, we have to operate the way we are fiscally. If we donB次元官网网址檛 operate that way, we wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to maintain the rural direction. One is dependent on the other.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
