RCMP Garage, Staff Increases Focus of Budget Session

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 04:37 PM

Prince George, B.C - The RCMP have been granted approval for a Garage that would serve the detachments throughout the north.

The proposal will see two mechanics hired to decommission and commision RCMP vehicles for the Prince George detachment and the North District .

Currently there are 52 vehicles in the Prince George detachment and 423 vehicles in North District. Combined, there are about 100 vehicles replaced each year.

Right now, vehicles have to be taken to Chilliwack. The RCMP Vehicles must be replaced every 160 thousand km's and it takes three months for Chilliwack to prepare and deliver a replacement. The current rate to have the vehicles prepared is $59 per hour, plus materials, plus transportation.

The garage would operate out of the 18th Avenue City yard and would be cost neutral and would not have any impact on the tax levy. The proposal says the annual expenses would be $166,368.00 and the revenue would be over $204,000. The project needs a cash infusion for start up in the range of $48 thousand dollars which would be paid back in a little over a year, that money was already provided for in the Capital Plan that was approved last fall. The money would be used for fencing to protect the vehicles being stored there.

Other requests were deferred to the February 27th meeting when all the enhancements will be discussed. Those enhancements include, a request from Human Resources for extra staff for recruiting. HR noted 35% of the City staff are over the age of 50 and 16% could retire in the next 5-10 years.

The other major enhancement presented to Council was for a Tangible Assets Survey. The city is now required to have a complete survey of assets, their value and their depreciation. This would be incorporated in to the City's financial reports. The survey would cost $185 thousand dollars. It has been moved to the February 27th meeting when it will be discussed with the other requested enhancements.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 04:37 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: metalman on February 20 2008 7:09 PM

Sounds reasonable, except the projected operating expenses. 160 grand a year? Not likely. Or is that just for shop supplies and doughnuts? What about wages for two mechanics? That sum alone would eat up most if not all of 166 g's, once you consider wages, benefits, wcb, pension etc.
It becomes increasingly clearer to me why most politicians have never been in business ( a real one, 80 hours per week, blood sweat and tears, employees, a pension plan...) Their cost estimates seem unreal to me.
metalman.

Posted by: MoneKate on February 20 2008 8:17 PM

Sounds like the automated garbage collection story. Keep pedaling the bull shit city hall you know what buttons to push to get the citizens on track, but hopefully soon no one will believe what you say.

Posted by: owl on February 20 2008 10:11 PM

My comment about these reports is that one never sees the full figures. To me, without seeing the whole financial picture, the info is useless.

"annual expenses would be $166,368.00"

are we sure that is not undercalculated by $1 or so?

Posted by: owl on February 20 2008 10:15 PM

Why is the city operating a revenue neutral operation when providing services to another city? What revenue neutral services are we receiving from other cities?

Posted by: metalman on February 21 2008 7:47 AM

"Revenue Neutral" Just another nonsense phrase, and it only sounds right to idiots and politicians (go ahead, make my day)
metalman.

Posted by: lostfaith on February 21 2008 10:04 AM

Ya revenue nuetral, thats a good one.
That makes me want to pay more taxes.
Who do I make the cheque out to.
What are the costs for this service under the current system?
$48,000.00 for a fence.

Posted by: metalman on February 21 2008 10:28 AM

Must be a helluvva fence for 48 large.
I imagine it is a federal specification for the fence, which means it is not your average chain link fenced compound, and there will probably be a security system. All this inside an existing fenced compound. We should be glad they don't 'require' a dedicated building to federal specs. it will probably come later, when they discover that the fuzz mechanics have to share space with the garden variety wrench pullers. Then they will need a secure building AND a secure compound outdoors.
metalman.