A recent addition to Campbell River’s fire department doesn’t appear to be helping the bottom line.
A $153,000 a year flex firefighter was hired last year with the intent of snuffing out soaring overtime.
But the fire department is still projected to be over budget this year by $375,000.
A city council report shows the department continues to have problems with labour and overtime costs due to a number of factors including shift coverage and callback for major fires.
“Despite the benefit of the additional flex fighter position in reducing the number of hours needed for shift coverage, the overall budget impact of overtime continues to rise owing to factors such as increased sickness and injury and recent changes in employment standards,” the report states.
Overtime alone will be double the budget this year ($410,000 and $196,000 was budgeted).
Mayor Kermit Dahl is concerned.
“I thought that council was fairly clear about what the expectation was if we funded the flex firefighter and apparently somewhere in translation that expectation has been missed,” Dahl said during a committee of council meeting Tuesday.
Councillor Ben Lanyon also expressed concern about the overtime issue.
A report with a more comprehensive explanation of overtime and how the flex firefighting position has been used will show up, along with a staff presentation, at a future council meeting.
City council agreed Tuesday to increase the department’s operating budget this year by $375,000 to cover the overages.
