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YES! On Monday, January 25, 2016, Council set the wheels in motion to improve the Highlands fire insurance rating through Superior Shuttle Accreditation (SSA). With SSA, Highlands’ homeowners will have a rare opportunity to improve their fire service and pay for it with their subsequent reduction in annual home fire insurance. For most homeowners, the annual savings in home insurance will be substantially greater than the tax increase required to pay for an additional fire tanker truck and one bay post disaster addition to the West Fire Hall.
Your local insurance agent calculates your home fire insurance premiums according to the Fire Underwriters Survey, a rating of a municipality’s fire services. The SSA would increase the Highlands’ fire protection rating from the “semi protected” to “protected” category in the Fire Underwriters Survey and permit your insurer to reduce your home fire insurance premium. The fact homeowner insurance savings pays for the higher level of fire service is a bonus.
With the additional 2000 gallon fire tanker truck, the Fire Department can shuttle more water to a fire scene and meet the Fire Underwriters Survey standard for a “protected” status. Meeting SSA standards is considered equivalent to a municipal fire hydrant system that produces 200 gallons per minute.
Council believes any fire service improvement that enhances the local fire response is prudent given the
increasing trend towards longer, drier and hotter summers in the Highlands.
When Highlands achieves the higher fire rating, your local insurer can immediately reduce your fire insurance premium depending on your building replacement value.
The District of Highlands could borrow $500,000 through the Municipal Finance Authority with a fixed interest rate for ten years to pay for the tanker truck ($270,000) and post disaster constructed fire bay addition ($230,000). To recover the funds to pay the annual principal and interest, the District could
increase the annual fire tax levy ($57,500).
To ensure the Highlands fire insurance rating remains 'protected' in future to sustain the lower home fire insurance rates, the District proposes a further annual fire tax levy increase to cover fire building and equipment replacement. Long term sustainable fire infrastructure funding is the best way to guarantee lower fire insurance rates in the future.
The District recommends that you ask your Home Insurance provider as soon as possible to quote you the fire insurance discount you will receive when the District of Highlands achieves the Superior Shuttle Accreditation. |
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My Insurance Provider Savings Quote | $ |
Minus: | $ |
Equals: | $ |