Police Services cuffed in budget talks
The London Police Services may
not be accustomed to being told 'no.'
City officials shot down Police Chief
Brad Duncan who asked for a budget
increase in 2013.
The request was for a 3.6 per cent budget increase from the 2012 budget, and that would be considered "maintenance" (wages and benefits) according to Chief Duncan. Police Services did not receive the increase.
London City Councillors approved a budget increase for the Police Services of 2.9 per cent with a vote of 11-4, 2.3 per cent in permanent funding ($90 million) and 0.6 per cent in one-time funding. For the police services, 0.6 per cent amounts to roughly $530,000.
Council originally motioned for a 1.6 per cent increase to the police budget, with the word "unsustainable" thrown around the debate in the Council Chambers at City Hall for approximately an hour and a half by both council and Duncan.
Chief Duncan said it himself following his presentation to council: "It is unsustainable ... It's clear that we can't keep going down this road ... Compensation must be provided for the work that is done ... There are very few people who will strap on a gun and lay down their lives in the safety of the city."
London's Police Chief said that the approved budget is certainly going to be difficult. "I am not reducing complement (police officers); I know this is what the community has asked us to do."
According to what the city councillors are hearing from their constituents — the taxpayers — a strong police presence is a top priority. Councillor Bill Armstrong said this is maintenance and nothing more than that, "I probably would support more to the (police) budget," he said, adding, "I'm hearing that people want more police officers and response times reduced."
The police will now be looking at service cuts, but Duncan doesn't want to take any resources like foot patrol or assigned school officers out of the budget. "In the next two to three years, our core and foot patrol will be needed," said Duncan. "In the BIA (Business Improvement Areas in Argyle, Old South and Old East), we will be seeing a lot of growth; we have to be assured that significant services are maintained."
One piece of the budget Duncan considers 'large' that may be on the chopping block is crossing guards, a service worth $1 million. The London Police Service is one of three services in all of Ontario who provide that service.
This is all in the name of achieving the zero per cent tax increase as promised by Mayor Joe Fontana three years ago.
February 28 is the deadline to approve and finalize the 2013 budget.
The request was for a 3.6 per cent budget increase from the 2012 budget, and that would be considered "maintenance" (wages and benefits) according to Chief Duncan. Police Services did not receive the increase.
London City Councillors approved a budget increase for the Police Services of 2.9 per cent with a vote of 11-4, 2.3 per cent in permanent funding ($90 million) and 0.6 per cent in one-time funding. For the police services, 0.6 per cent amounts to roughly $530,000.
Council originally motioned for a 1.6 per cent increase to the police budget, with the word "unsustainable" thrown around the debate in the Council Chambers at City Hall for approximately an hour and a half by both council and Duncan.
Chief Duncan said it himself following his presentation to council: "It is unsustainable ... It's clear that we can't keep going down this road ... Compensation must be provided for the work that is done ... There are very few people who will strap on a gun and lay down their lives in the safety of the city."
London's Police Chief said that the approved budget is certainly going to be difficult. "I am not reducing complement (police officers); I know this is what the community has asked us to do."
According to what the city councillors are hearing from their constituents — the taxpayers — a strong police presence is a top priority. Councillor Bill Armstrong said this is maintenance and nothing more than that, "I probably would support more to the (police) budget," he said, adding, "I'm hearing that people want more police officers and response times reduced."
The police will now be looking at service cuts, but Duncan doesn't want to take any resources like foot patrol or assigned school officers out of the budget. "In the next two to three years, our core and foot patrol will be needed," said Duncan. "In the BIA (Business Improvement Areas in Argyle, Old South and Old East), we will be seeing a lot of growth; we have to be assured that significant services are maintained."
One piece of the budget Duncan considers 'large' that may be on the chopping block is crossing guards, a service worth $1 million. The London Police Service is one of three services in all of Ontario who provide that service.
This is all in the name of achieving the zero per cent tax increase as promised by Mayor Joe Fontana three years ago.
February 28 is the deadline to approve and finalize the 2013 budget.
