FORUM REVIEW

It is no secret that smaller local governments have challenges filling positions. In response, some small communities are adopting innovative approaches to address this issue. An illustration of this approach can be seen in the City of Nelson, whose Chief Financial Officer (CFO) also serves four smaller neighbouring municipalities, assisting and supporting them throughout the year. Notably, the City of Nelson and the four municipalities undergo joint audits as well. Similarly, the Village of Tahsis encountered difficulties attracting a suitable candidate for their CFO role. Specifically, they had difficulty matching salaries from other local governments. They made the strategic decision to transform the CFO position into a part-time, remote position. Through this arrangement they attracted a suitable candidate. Both the City of Nelson and the Village of Tahsis have achieved remarkable success through these arrangements, resulting in enhanced stability and continuity.

This session also complemented Dr. Hilary Curry’s insightful opening keynote on June 1, 2023. Dr. Curry emphasized the importance of adopting a skill-based organizational design that distinguishes between operational and specialist roles. This framework lays a solid foundation for promoting employee retention and engagement.

RCMP COSTS: COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN APPROACHING THE 5,000 PEOPLE POPULATION THRESHOLD.

Presented on this topic were Kristen Watson, Chief Financial Officer - Bowen Island, Lorraine Coughlin, Director of Finance - Town of Gibsons, Bernice Crossman, Director of Finance - City of Duncan, Steffan Klassen, Director of Finance & Corporate Services - Town of Creston.

For community safety, the choice between utilizing the services of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or engaging an alternative service provider is at the discretion of each municipality. For most British Columbia communities, utilizing the RCMP is the preferable choice. The primary consideration behind this decision is the federal government’s subsidy of RCMP services. For communities under 5,000 residents police services are cost-shared between the Province and federal government. However, when a community’s population grows and surpasses 5,000 residents, the subsidy is only 30 per cent for police services, with the municipality required to cover the remaining 70 per cent.

The presenters delivered an enlightening session, offering three distinct perspectives on the 5,000 resident RCMP cost-sharing threshold. These perspectives encompassed proactive preparations prior to reaching the threshold, the implications upon exceeding the threshold, and the ongoing repercussions of maintaining a police force for a population above 5,000 people. Among the noteworthy insights shared, particular emphasis was placed on the substantial financial impact associated with surpassing this threshold. Moreover, the presenters underscored the importance of fostering awareness and understanding among council members and citizens concerning the magnitude of the consequences once the 5,000 people population threshold is surpassed.

For conference registrants, the sessions are available for viewing until August 31, 2023, allowing flexibility and convenience in accessing valuable content. We encourage you to take full advantage of this extended timeframe and delve into the wealth of knowledge presented. Additionally, we encourage you to share your suggestions for future conference topics for the 2024 GFOABC Annual Conference in Kamloops with Stephanie Kast at skast@ gfoabc.ca. Your input is greatly appreciated as we strive to curate a comprehensive and relevant program for future conferences.