British ColumbiaThe Vancouver Police Board has voted to approve a budget request of just over $497 million in 2026, a $50 million increase over 2025’s final budget.Police board chair acknowledges likely pushback to budget request, as other departments face cutsAkshay Kulkarni · CBC News · Posted: Nov 03, 2025 7:18 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe Vancouver Police Board has approved a budget request of $497 million for 2026, a 4.9 per cent increase over 2025 levels, which one police board member noted would generate pushback. (Ben Nelms/CBC)The Vancouver Police Board has voted to approve a budget request of just over $497 million in 2026, a $50 million increase over 2025’s final budget.It comes just two days before the city’s draft budget is presented to council, a budget of high intrigue given Mayor Ken Sim has been pushing for a zero per cent property tax increase.At a meeting on Monday, Vancouver Police Board member Lorraine Lowe acknowledged there would likely be pushback to the budget request, as other city departments like the Park Board could face cuts in the budget.But the board heard from staff members who said that the 4.9 per cent increase in the budget request was due to external cost increases that the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) can’t control, as well as policing costs for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.WATCH | Vancouver mayor wants 0% property tax increase:Vancouver city council instructs staff to budget for a 2026 property tax freezeVancouver city councillors have directed city staff to build a budget that will freeze property taxes next year, leading some to worry about service cuts. But as CBC’s Justin McElroy reports, the mayor said he has given a directive to maintain core services, like libraries, community centres, roads, fire and police.Still, Lowe acknowledged there would be pushback and questions for the police board about the extra cash — with the VPD already projected to go $17 million over budget in 2025.”[For] the public … the optics are, ‘Oh, the police get everything they want,'” she said on Monday when questioning staff during the meeting.A Vancouver Police Board member noted there’s a perception that the department gets a “blank cheque” from the city. (Justine Beaulieu-Poudrier/CBC/Radio-Canada)Staff say that around $12 million of the new money they requested would help maintain existing service levels.A further $9 million would help with “underfunded items” in the core budget, according to staff, related to contractual obligations and policing protests among other things.”This proposed budget reflects a balanced approach between the VPD’s needs and city council fiscal constraints,” said VPD chief financial officer Nancy Eng at the meeting.VPD staff say some of the budget increase would go to policing protests, like this one by climate group Extinction Rebellion in May 2021. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)Park board faces cutsScrutiny of the VPD budget is nothing new, given the police department takes up the largest chunk of the city’s budget each year.A recent CBC News investigation revealed that the department spent over $40 million in 2024 on overtime alone.Lowe noted the perception that the VPD get a “blank cheque” each year from the city.WATCH | VPD spending on overtime scrutinized:47 VPD officers made over $100K in OT last year — and one banked $239K, FOI data showsA CBC investigation has found more and more VPD officers are raking in the overtime pay. A growing number are making at least $100,000 in double-time, in some cases their entire base salary or more. As Liam Britten reports, it has some critics asking about accountability and officer wellness.Still, the budget request passed on Monday with no additional debate from other board members.The city’s mayor has promised no cuts to policing, firefighting or libraries in the upcoming budget, despite the promise to not hike property taxes.Even as the VPD wants more money, the Vancouver Park Board is expected to have its budget reduced by $15 million in the upcoming budget — drawing concern from one park board commissioner.The Vancouver Park Board operates more than 250 separate parks across the city. It is expected to face budget cuts as the city aims for a property tax freeze. (Justin McElroy/CBC)According to a motion from Park Board commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky, set to be discussed on Tuesday, the city’s parks are being asked to absorb 12.5 per cent of the city’s $120 million in spending cuts.”This will directly impact frontline community services. That means reduced service hours,” Bastyovanszky said on CBC’s The Early Edition on Monday.”It means deferring additional maintenance. It means, basically, undermining the cleanliness across our parks and and recreation.”Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky says the budget cuts to the park board will mean frontline service reductions. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)When asked about the VPD’s spending on overtime, and how that stacked up to the $15 million in cuts to the park board, Bastyovanszky was emphatic that any money raised by the city’s parks should stay within the parks system and not be used for other city functions.”Why are some departments not being not being targeted for cuts? Like, why are some of them allowed to to balloon and go over budget?” he asked.With files from Justin McElroy and The Early Edition
Vancouver Police Board wants city to increase budget by $50M amid mayor’s tax freeze promise
