FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 6, 2019 10:15 am
(Ottawa) – This morning, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) tabled the 2019 Draft Operating and Capital Budget with the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB).
The budget was developed to address Ottawa’s growing policing needs, stabilize staffing issues and address key policing issues in community policing, traffic enforcement, violence against women and gun violence suppression.
Other important priorities included in this budget are the continued expansion of Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs), funding for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program, the ongoing response to the Opioid crisis, Outreach Recruitment and a new radio system.
“When we started this process we asked the Chief to bring us the real numbers that we need to see in this budget to keep our community safe. This budget does that,” said Ottawa Police Services Board Chair Diane Deans. “But I believe we canstill sharpen our pencils and further mitigate the impact on taxpayers. This morning I directed the Chief to bring back a budget options list, that excludes any impact on frontline police services, to our Finance and Audit Committee meeting on February 20th. This would ensure the service achieves the sworn officer increases it requires and can maintain its commitment to enhancing community policing.”
The OPS gun violence suppression strategy saw an increase in staff in 2018 of 10 new officers. A further funding announcement is expected from the provincial government this year.
Budget Highlights
The projected net operating budget for the OPS will be $306.5 million on a gross operating budget of $349.5 million with a police tax rate increase of 3%.
This is a net incremental operating budget increase of $12.2 million over 2018. With the assessment growth assumption of 1.5%, the budget results in a net increase to the police tax rate of $18per year for the average urban resident.
This budget adds 30 more officers in 2019 and begins a 120 officer hiring plan between 2019 and 2022. Those resources are again being directed to addressing staffing shortages in front line and investigative roles. The positions will also assist the service in addressing other staffing gaps.
As directed by the Board, OPS staff held several meetings with City staff throughout January 2019 to discuss strategies to moderate the police tax rate increase. These meetings resulted in a funding strategy enabling OPS to achieve the 3% tax rate increase.
That approach is based on Red light camera revenue transferred to Police beginning in 2019 and the use of tax stabilization funding to offset and smooth base funding increases. The funding strategy reduces the police tax rate increase to 3% in 2019 and holds the tax rate increases in the 4% range for the 2020-22 forecast periods. The funding strategy requires one time funding of $12 million over three (3) years and $8 million of revenue from red light cameras over four (4) years.
The budget is focused on addressing areas that have caused, and are anticipated to cause, the OPS significant levels of financial risk in the upcoming fiscal year.
These items include:
- WSIB ($1.1 million increase),
- Overtime ($0.6 million increase),
- Front Desk/Police Reporting Unit staffing ($0.6 million increase) and
- Fleet costs ($0.5 million increase).
“The context in which we police continues to change. We are seeing an increase in violent crime and gun violence as demands for service from residents is increasing with population growth,” said Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau. “This budget ensures the Ottawa Police Service can continue to provide the service residents expect and need. It also ensures we have the capacity to address neighbourhood-based crime and social disorder trends and that we are operationally ready to respond to emergency situations and events.”
Have your say…
The OPS wants to hear from residents and business about their thoughts on the 2019 Budget.
Public delegations and questions from Ottawa City Councillors are welcome at the February 20, 2019, Finance and Audit Committee meeting and at the beginning of the regular meeting of the OPSB on February 25, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. in the, 110 Laurier Avenue, 2nd floor.
The Ottawa Police 2019 Budget is scheduled for approval by the Board on February 25, 2019, and by City Council on March 6, 2019.
A complete copy of the Ottawa Police Service 2018 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets is available for viewing or downloading on ottawapolice.ca. As well, it can be requested through info@ottawapolice.ca.
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