Policing costs in the Municipality of Meaford are going up.
Meaford council at a recent meeting received a delegation from OPP representatives about its police contract status.
Police Services Board Chair Bob Anderson, local detachment Commander Inspecter Mark Vanlanduyt and Western Region Contract Analyst Dino Tsitomeneas attended a recent council meeting to outline what a new contract with the OPP will mean for the municipality.
The new contract calls for the equivalent of 14.66 full-time personnel to police Meaford. The total cost of the contract is estimated at $1,971,064, with provincial usage of local officers expected to contribute a $98,553 rebate from that amount.
"With this contract you get service at a define cost, additional staff are available if needed and you have adequate and effective policing," Tsitomeneas told council.
The new contract will be in place for five years. Tsitomeneas said the financial numbers in the contract are based on a formula established in 2003. He said it was likely that formula would change in the future. A change could cause an increase in policing costs for the municipality.
Inspector Vanlanduyt told council that every effort was made to meet the municipality's mandate for policing.
"There was a desire to minimize cost increases and a reduction in service was unacceptable. Our proposal largely accomplishes that mandate as set out," he said.
PSB Chair Anderson endorsed the proposal.
"(The Board) is in total agreement with the proposal and contract for the next five years," he said.
After the OPP presentation, Deputy Mayor Francis Richardson immediately pointed out that costs and personnel were increasing in the new contract. Deputy Mayor Richardson immediately pointed out that the contract as presented represented a 13.87-per-cent increase in costs for the municipality.
In addition, it added .67 of a full time person to the payroll.
"Who has said a reduction in service is not acceptable? Things have changed drastically in our municipality," said Richardson. "This is going to have to be looked at very carefully," he said.
The OPP delegation said the contract proposal is based on recommendations made by the Police Services Board and is a valid offer for a six-month period.
Councillor Mike Traynor pointed out that policing costs from 2004-2008 have increased from $1.4 million to almost $1.9 million.
"The taxpayer really has to start putting the brakes on here," said Traynor.
Council made no decision about the contract proposal at the meeting. Financial consultant David Creech has suggested to council that reducing the costs of OPP policing may be necessary to get a $1.5-million increase in spending in 2008 under control.
