After listening for nearly an hour to residentsB次元官网网址� pleas to make cuts to the proposed tax hike for 2025, the City of Langford responded, reducing the number of RCMP officers to be hired this year from five to four.

Originally accounting for four per cent of this yearB次元官网网址檚 property tax increase, the funding would have allowed for the recruitment of five new officers B次元官网网址� two working in a new economic crime department, one for the special victims unit and two for the investigative services team, who assist frontline officers.

The cut was proposed by Coun. Lillian Szpak, who explained she was not B次元官网网址渄evaluing the service,B次元官网网址� more looking to find a more B次元官网网址渃reative approachB次元官网网址� to policing.

B次元官网网址淭his is the hard work that weB次元官网网址檙e doing, rolling up our sleeves, listening to our community, looking for efficiencies,B次元官网网址� she said at the March 4 committee of the whole meeting. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e required them from every single department in our city.B次元官网网址�

Urging against the budget cut was Supt. Todd Preston, officer in charge of West Shore RCMP, who warned reducing the number of recruits would B次元官网网址渄efinitelyB次元官网网址� impact the serviceB次元官网网址檚 ability to ensure public safety. And if given final approval, he said it would be up to city councillors to decide where they would like B次元官网网址渓ess policing.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 would strongly advocate that you donB次元官网网址檛 reduce policing in this community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭o keep this community safe I would need the five members.B次元官网网址�

Based on LangfordB次元官网网址檚 population growth according to BC Stats, Preston said the cop-to-population ratio calls for 5.8 new officers for the city, a figure he rounded down to five. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried to do my bit by not asking for the sixth based on the population increase,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淣ow [Langford] run the risk of fracturing relationships with other communities, in terms of not pulling your weight,B次元官网网址� he added in reference to the financial support the RCMP receives from the other West Shore municipalities.

Couns. Mark Morley, Mary Wagner and Mayor Scott Goodmanson all vocalized their support for hiring five new RCMP officers.

While acknowledging the 'cop-to-pop' ratio may not be the best way to determine RCMP staffing levels, Goodmanson urged against making rash changes to the methodology.

B次元官网网址淭rying to rejig it during budget is like rebuilding the boat while you are on the water,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f this is what [the RCMP] need to service our community, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to tell them theyB次元官网网址檙e wrong on that.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his is not a nice to have, itB次元官网网址檚 a need to have,B次元官网网址� he added.

B次元官网网址淧ulling back from the five right now does seem a bit awkward,B次元官网网址� said Wagner.

A motion to recommend making no changes to the proposed RCMP budget, allowing for the recruitment of five officers, was opposed by Couns. Keith Yachuca, Kimberley Guiry, Colby Harder and Szpak.

SzpakB次元官网网址檚 motion to recruit four officers was supported by the majority of council, with Goodmanson and Morley in opposition.

"We are still expanding police services, just not as quickly," said Yachuca. 

In contrast to pared-down increase to the RCMPB次元官网网址檚 budget, councillors were unanimous in their recommendation that the fire departmentB次元官网网址檚 budget increase, accounting for 1.85 per cent of the property tax hike, stay at the proposed amount.

The proposed increase will allow for the recruitment of nine additional staff members B次元官网网址� six firefighters, two fire inspectors and one training officer. As a result of the new recruits, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 second fire hall on Happy Valley Road will be staffed 24/7.

Acknowledging the fire department is B次元官网网址渞unning a very tight ship,B次元官网网址� leaving it B次元官网网址渘o wiggle roomB次元官网网址� to meet service demand, Szpak made the motion to recommend sticking to the proposed budget.

B次元官网网址淲e want to be a full-service department,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪afety and security of our community with regards to our fire response is number one.B次元官网网址�

The proposed property tax increase for 2025 had originally started at 14.51 percent, dropping to 11.96 per cent following cuts made at a February meeting.

In addition to trimming the proposed RCMP budget, the city also chipped away in other areas at the March 4 meeting, including its general staffing budget and reducing the amount to be saved for future technology upgrades.

Budget discussions will continue at the regular council meeting on Monday, March 17.