Campbell River council has been able to shave half a percent off what will be required from city taxpayers in 2025.
In its first day of budget deliberations Tuesday (Dec. 3), a motion by Councillor Ron Kerr was approved to move $210,000 for firefighter overtime from the base budget to operations.
“(T)o allow staff to report back to council on further analysis of financial pressure and drivers affecting the fire department budget and overtime usage,” Kerr said in his motion.
The budget move drops the amount of tax dollars required from the so-called average city home by $12 to $69 more dollars next year.
The tax levy increase started at 3.39 per cent before Kerr’s motion reduced it to 2.89 per cent.
The city plans to collect $1,225,153 more in taxes in 2025.
Earlier in the day council heard from the Fire Chief Dan Verdun and Deputy Fire Chief Kelly Bellefleur about the struggles the department is facing.
Even with the new flex firefighter hired last year, the department has only been able to cover 13,000 of the 19,000 hours of absences in 2024.
Most of the absences are for vacation, sick time and banked time off.
Budget talks continue Wednesday.
