OttawaThe police service board has voted for a budget that will boost base city funding for Ottawa Police Service operations to almost $415 million next year, sending it to council for final approval.The Ottawa Police Service Board voted to increase base police operating budget by $26.1 millionListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A police budget with a significant spending boost will now head to council for approval. (Olivier Plante/CBC)The police service board has voted for a budget that will boost base city funding for Ottawa Police Service (OPS) operations to almost $415 million next year, sending it to council for final approval.That’s an increase of $26.1 million, precisely what was first presented last month. That number doesn’t include an extra $5.4 million in one-time funding out of the city’s tax stabilization reserve.The board made no major changes, even after several members pushed for more spending.The added money comes largely from a five per cent boost to a property tax levy dedicated to police, as well as a slice of added tax income from new homes and payments higher levels of government make for their properties in the city.But OPS deputy chief Steve Bell again noted that it will cost police even more just to maintain current services — about $30.5 million — which means they’ll have to find about $4.3 million of savings.Chief Eric Stubbs told the board there is a real risk of reporting a deficit next year. The estimated deficit for this year is already forecast at $19.3 million.Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry, a member of the board, said that she doesn’t think police spending is high enough.“If it were up to me, there would be more in it,” she said.“I would have supported a good deal more than five per cent,” said board member Michael Polowin.Board chair Salim Fakirani called it a “responsible budget” that will meet the service’s core responsibilities.The budget funds 25 new positions, including 21 new police officers, and also covers cost pressures from higher staffing costs due to collective bargaining agreements.It also supports ongoing projects like bodycams and a new district policing model, which is meant to bring policing closer to neighbourhoods across the city.Before the vote, speakers addressed the board’s remote meeting to debate the spending boost.Sandra Milton, vice president of the Lowertown Community Association, said her neighbourhood is grappling with encampments, open drug use, fights and property damage and needs more officers on the street.Michelle Groulx, chief advocate for the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, said businesses across the city are dealing with a wave of brazen shoplifting and need more support. But Robin Browne, who frequently shows up at board to criticize the OPS, called the budget increase “massive” and said the reforms it supports will change nothing.“This isn’t the time to give the police more money,” he said. “It’s a time to continue reimagining community safety by shifting money away from the Ottawa police to things that actually respect people’s human rights to keep us all safer.”ABOUT THE AUTHORArthur White-Crummey is a reporter at CBC Ottawa. He has previously worked as a reporter in Saskatchewan covering the courts, city hall and the provincial legislature. You can reach him at arthur.white-crummey@cbc.ca.
Police budget boost gets board approval as some push for further spending
