Long-Term Borrowing for Fire Apparatus Acquisition

Whereas regional district fire services across British Columbia are facing increasing financial pressure with respect to replacing fire apparatus and are not permitted to utilize long-term borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority to purchase the same without costly referendum processes; And whereas should these referendums fail, communities will be left without fire protection during a time that sees increasing risk from wildfires as well as increased insurance rates, particularly for those without fire protection services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation to permit regional districts to utilize long-term borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority over the life-span of fire apparatus without the requirement to go to referendum, subject to the service having been established through a referendum process.