Waterloo region council approves police service's $195.8M budget

Region of Waterloo councillors have voted to approve the $195.8 million budget for police — about $10 million more than last year's, but $2 million less than what was originally requested.

Councillors voted 13-2 in favour of the police operating budget Wednesday afternoon. The decision was expected to be ratified at a regional council meeting Wednesday evening.

Councillors also unanimously voted in favour of establishing an upstream initiative fund of $2.1 million in 2022 and $1.6 million in years to follow, which would be funded by a property tax levy. As well, councillors established a one-time $500,000 transition fund to help research what those upstream initiatives — like mental health outreach — might best help with crime prevention.

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton voted against the budget, saying she has long felt there's been a lack of policing in her rural township. 

"We need these upstream programs and we need them guaranteed. We need them not to be taken away," Foxton said. "We need to be better, but we need to guarantee them and make sure they stay forever."

Coun. Tom Galloway also voted against the police budget.

Budget addresses needs of community: Board member

Earlier in the day, members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service board unanimously approved the updated budget request from Chief Bryan Larkin on Wednesday morning, and it includes funds for hiring 35 new officers.

Some in the community have spoken out against an increase to the police budget. They include members of the group ReAllocate Waterloo Region.

But Ian McLean, a board member and president-CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, said the budget reflected both a growing region — and the increased pressure on police, including investigations involving guns, gangs and rising calls for service. 

It also addresses "systemic budget underfunding" from previous years that meant the service did not increase the number of officers as population numbers grew.

"This budget is a down payment on the growing needs in our community," McLean said.

Police system not broken: Larkin

Larkin, meanwhile, defended the budget put forward, saying he's heard from community members who want to see changes to public safety and policing.

But he also said he supports the movement to divert mental health calls when possible. The chief told council he's advocated for updated legislation around mental health and drug policies, as well as labour reform, from the upper levels of government.

"There are some individuals that reference our system as being broken," he said. "I disagree. Every single day our members are working within an infrastructure and making a difference in people's lives."

Larkin has said the service needs more officers in order manage both the growing number of service calls and increasingly complex cases. But there are other factors driving up the police budget, including:

• The cost of moving the fleet of police vehicles to hybrid.
• Implementing the provincial digital evidence management system.
• The body-worn camera and in-car video pilot project.
• The new central division building.
• Cost-of-living raises that are part of the collective agreements with unions.
• Increased premiums for the long-term disability program.
• Increased costs for medical, dental and retiree benefits.

On top of that, the police service's grant from the province for court security prisoner transportation was cut by $1 million to $4.4 million.

More officers needed, union says

The budget also received support from the Waterloo Regional Police Association, the union representing police officers. 

Mark Egers, president of the police union, said the community "expects and deserves" a police service that is adequately staffed.

"I cannot overstate how much this increase in staffing is needed," Egers said, noting the new 35 officers should be hired as quickly as possible. "This increase is needed today. We cannot afford to have it deferred to later in the budget year."

LISTEN | Regional Coun. Tom Galloway and Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic had indicated they plan to put forward their own proposals as to how money can be reallocated to upstream services to prevent crime.