Budget Systems

[squiddy]

And you end up with your neighbouring service getting a full set of rescue gear, when you already have the gear...with no checks done in relation to whether or not the gear is required or not......

Grants are great, but really, shouldn't the CFS be better funded, so we don't need to go begging for things that we actually use - like vehicle fridges, TV / DVD players & stuff like that!!

Pip

Just wait until they introduce the new budget system like the did with the SES, then it will be back to the good old days of begging, stealing and borrowing everything you can because you are competing against every other regional brigade for new equipment etc. Ask anyone who is dealing with the new SES budget system just how wonderful it is... 

[Pipster]

What's invloved in the new SES budget system?

Pip

[oz fire]

Activity based Funding - allocation of budgets on incidents attended, specialist roles undertaken etc.

I gues budget modeling needs to start somewhere and more importantly, being public money the process needs to be somewhat transperant with all levels accountable - otherwise there would be people running around buying toys and gadgets, because they can, not because they need them

[2090]

It does make sense to allocate funds to brigades/units that actually need the money. If you have a brigade/unit that is very busy, then their equipment is no doubt going to suffer from more wear and tear than another less busy brigade.

[bajdas]

The other major part of the new SES budget system is that any major new equipment purchases are from a Regional committee level. This is to ensure that the equipment purchased is to cover a emergency response need from a regional perspective, rather than from a Unit level.

The Region Commander has final say, given he/she are employed to mitigate emergency situations within their region, so this makes sense.

Given only four SES regions exist, this is a huge change. Some Units are having problems adjusting to the loss of their ability to direct themselves on equipment purchases, though every Unit within the region is represented on the new committees.

[Alan (Big Al)]

Might stop some units from treating their eqipment like rubbish, i know of a unit that has gone through 4 sets of cutter blades on their jaws in 5 years because they kept on snapping and cracking them??

[Mike]

We can move funding to a different thread if need be, however lets keep this one about any grants available.

Cheers

[bajdas]

We can move funding to a different thread if need be, however lets keep this one about any grants available.

Cheers

Slightly off topic. But if a CFS brigade receive new equipment via a grant, will that impact their allocated monies from CFS ?

Under the new SES budget system it would. The SES Regional committee would see the new equipment & understandably give their support to buying equipment for a different Unit.

Not sure if a SES Regional committee could apply for a grant under the new SES budget scheme though !!

[SA Firey]

Might stop some units from treating their eqipment like rubbish, i know of a unit that has gone through 4 sets of cutter blades on their jaws in 5 years because they kept on snapping and cracking them??

Obviously dont know how to use the tool

[backburn]

I know this is a old topic but I was wondering does anyone know of the new Budget that is came in yesterday?  I'm a purchasing officer for a group but have been told nuthing of the new system.

[Pipster]

The Region 1 Business Service Officer gave a presentation to our group in regard to the new funding....

It would appear that many groups will have a decrease in their overall funding BUT Groups are no longer required to pay for their PPE or Foam - that will now be done from Region - so overall, our Group has a real increase in funding.   I suspect most groups would have the same thing.

The new funding model takes into account things like how many appliances you have in the Group, and what size they are - and hence the average cost of servicing them, based on your Groups previous costings, averaged out over the last few years 

If you have spent all of your vehicle maintenance budget, and something unforseen comes up like having to replace numerous truck tyres unexpectedly, Region will pick up that cost.   

If you have a quiet year, and haven't spent all your vehicle maintenance budget, you can spend it on something else, and don't have to return it to the Government at the end of the financial year!   

The Group gets extra funds for Specialist brigades (like RCR / Hazmat) to cover costs associated with that equipment.

The funding model also takes into account the number of calls that the Group responds to, based on previous figures for the Group.

Overall, the model presented to us appeared very positive - and it should make things easier for the Group Finance officer / Group Purchasing officer (assuming all the Regions follow the same model).

I'd suggest you contact your Region's Business Service Officer - they should be able to fill you in on the changes!

Pip

[backburn]

Thanks Pip for that information, I have tried to get to speak to the BSO but they keep putting off the meeting until as they say when they have free time looking at sometime in mid July 19th or later

[SA Firey]

Make it an actionable item at a group meeting and have it minuted,and that way they have to respond in an appropriate time frame,not get put off