Shire fears cost cuts could hit fire brigades as operation expenses continue to rack up

Shire of Dardanup operated fire services could face budget cuts as the rising costs of operation outpace funding. The Shire of Dardanup spent nearly $100,000 more than the allocated $205,000 in the 2024/25 financial year through the DFES-run Local Government Grant Scheme, according to shire documents. While $46,424 of the overspend will be reimbursed by DFES, shire president Tyrrell Gardiner believes the remaining $53,488 will come out of the shire’s pocket. The LGGS is funded by an emergency services levy paid quarterly by ratepayers in the Shire of Dardanup. Money raised through the program goes directly into fire and emergency services across the State. According to shire documents, the 2023/24 allocation was a 15 per cent reduction compared to the previous year. More than $100,000 was spent by the shire on keeping vehicles in an operational condition and $62,853 was spent on personal protective clothing. According to officer comments, fuel costs have doubled in the past two years while vehicle servicing has increased by $8000 and insurance is up by $18,000 since 2021/22. Costs were also increased due to the shire having to battle a blaze in Eaton in December which led to evacuations of residents. Cr Gardiner said the spending came off the back of a busy year for the brigades. “We had fires both within the local government and out and when those fires happen it’s just a matter of dealing with them,” he said. “Sometimes there’s some discretionary spending happening that’s not covered by DFES and it’s a bit of a bugbear that the local government grant scheme — (which) is the emergency services levy coming back to local governments — to run the fire brigades ... hasn’t really moved upwards in line with current costs of doing business for those brigades.” According to officer comments in the minutes of the shire’s most recent council meeting, the shire sought a budget of $245,000 but were only offered $220,000 which will be a “very difficult” task to stick to without cutting spending at the brigades.