Photo: Jon Manchester

Emergency services in Vernon will be getting a funding increase in 2021.

City council approved a bump in funding for Vernon Fire Rescue Services by $275,603 and increase the total for the 2021 RCMP contract by $258,595 in their budget deliberations that took place on Monday.

Fire Rescue Services had a budget of $6.56 million in 2020, and next year it will be bumped up to $6.83 million. The City of Vernon's contract with the RCMP will rise to $9.92 million in 2021 after it was set at $9.66 million last year.

Fire Rescue cited the need for the extra funding due to COVID-19 protocols and procedures while out in the field, along with the need to keep up with contractor costs and employee benefits. They will be delaying the hiring of two new firefighters until 2022, although they did hire two firefighters a couple of months ago.

Vernon Fire Rescue will also be purchasing a new radio system for $95,000 and replacing some hazardous materials response equipment for $20,000, but all that funding will come out of reserves.

The RCMP were able to secure extra funding to purchase body cameras for their police force. Vernon North Okanagan RCMP Supt. Shawna Baher said she did not have a set cost on the body cameras.

Baher also mentioned that the Vernon detachment hopes to be a part of a dashcam pilot program in the new year as well.