Saanich Police are asking for an increase of almost five per cent to their budget B次元官网网址� a demand one citizensB次元官网网址� group considers too high.
B次元官网网址淭he new Saanich council has a unique opportunity to take a fresh look at the police services budget,B次元官网网址� said Bruce Kennedy, board member with Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria. B次元官网网址淭heir challenge is to respect taxpayer fatigue and still provide an adequate level of police services in a community.B次元官网网址�
The draft budget submitted by the Saanich Police Board requests a budget increase of $1,668,121 B次元官网网址� or 4.97 per cent B次元官网网址� to meet what the report calls B次元官网网址渇unding needs arising from anticipated wage increases, pay increments, increase in the benefit load, additions to staff, increases to committed operating expenses and the increased cost of regional policing units.B次元官网网址�
Last year, Saanich council granted Saanich police a B次元官网网址渟tatus quo budgetB次元官网网址� with an increase of 3.81 per cent after considerable back-and-forth between both sides after Saanich Police had initially displayed little intention to scale back demands.
RELATED:
Of notable interest is the reportB次元官网网址檚 explicit reference to two positions cut last year. B次元官网网址淎dditional resources are required to recover two of the five positions lost through 2018 budget reductions; those being, the Assistant Block Watch Coordinator and an Administrative Support Position,B次元官网网址� it reads.
In short, the department wants to claw back concessions from this current council that the previous council had achieved in suggesting on-going bureaucratic tensions.
B次元官网网址淥ther internal demands require resources to improve capacity for training, information technology management, complex investigations, disclosure, and operational efficiency and effectiveness,B次元官网网址� the report reads. B次元官网网址淩egional police resources are required to support investigations relating to [cyber-crime], child exploitation and mental health investigations.B次元官网网址�
Kennedy said escalating costs for emergency services across the region represent a major challenge for municipalities in the region. B次元官网网址淭his situation will require very difficult decisions in the years ahead for the Saanich Council, the Saanich Police Board, and taxpayers, both local and across the region,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎t what point will agreeing to demands not be an affordable option?B次元官网网址� he asked in raising questions about the sustainability and legitimacy of the police budget.
B次元官网网址淲hy are budgets increasing while crime trends have been dropping for years including the five-year trend for Crime Severity Index for Saanich?B次元官网网址� he asked.
RELATED:
Political reactions to the proposed police budget have been muted. B次元官网网址淥n behalf of [council] regarding your present inquiry, it would be premature to provide an opinion on the proposed [police budget] at this time,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Fred Haynes. B次元官网网址淎s with all [departmental] budgets, they will be presented as part of the [financial plan] process including [council] deliberation and decision as well as public input.B次元官网网址�
While formal budget discussions have not yet started, the submission from the Saanich Police Board B次元官网网址� the body overseeing the Saanich Police Department B次元官网网址� starts to highlight some of the financial challenges awaiting council.
They include the introduction of the Employer Health Tax among others. The public also still awaits the final price tag for the clean up of the tent city that occupied Regina Park for several months, as well as councilB次元官网网址檚 decision concerning its own remuneration rates.
Like us on and follow us on
