Town reallocates $2.65 million through 2028 to finance replacement fire truck

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Strathmore has reallocated a significant portion of its available grant funding in order to finance a replacement aerial fire truck.

Passing the amendment, July 22, $1.25 million will be taken from the 2027 Local Government Fiscal Framework, and $1.4 million will be from the 2028 Canada Community Building Fund.

“While administration was developing the financial plan, we brought the 2026 budget to you. What we did not do is, we did not secure the funding for the full four-year plan,” said Leana Ashbacher, chief financial officer for the Town of Strathmore. “What we did in 2025, we had requested from council the $350,000 to be funded through reserves, and then in 2026, we had requested that the remaining part of the aerial fire truck was to be funded through debt.”

Now, with an established understanding of funding the town has been able to secure, Ashbacher said it was the recommendation of administration to shift from funding the truck through debt, to funding through LGFF and CCBF grants for the remaining $2.65 million.

She explained that by passing the amendment, it changes the capital budgeting forecast, requiring more projects to be brought forward through debt instead of grants. 

“We need to ensure that we are replacing our infrastructure in the right time frame to ensure the safety of our residents; ensure we have safe water, safe sewer, safe roads, as well as ensuring that our equipment is replaced in a timely fashion,” said Ashbacher. 

In July 2025, council approved a capital budget amendment for the downpayment on an aerial ladder firetruck in response to a projected 10 per cent price jump.

The amendment to make the downpayment at the time locked in the price for the town, and no further payments were noted to be required until 2027. 

This allowed town administration the time to develop a financial plan for the remaining balance and align the delivery timeline with the retirement of the current machine.

The price increase was noted by the manufacturer as a result of the threat of tariffs from the United States on Canada at the time.

At the inquiry of Coun. Melissa Langmaid, Ashbacher clarified council and administration will have to discuss, come 2027 budget season, what the extent of the impacts will be regarding other infrastructure projects. 

This will effectively boil down to which projects will see delays, and which priorities the town will take on debts for in order to see more timely completion.