Ottawa Police Service presents $18-million budget
Posted Jan 29, 2019 02:09:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau presented an $18-million budget at Monday's police services board meeting, which is a 5.1 per cent increase over last year.
Bordeleau explained that the extra funds reflect the needs of the department with money for to hire more officers dedicated to community policing and traffic enforcement.
New board chair Diane Deans explained that not all services are the same, some are more important than others.
“I think you know, when we have had an escalation in street violence in our community and people are concerned that police might be one of the areas that they want to make sure is adequately funded” said Deans. “If the chief believes that number is higher then we should listen to what he has to say before we recommend any number to city council.”
Deans says while they will be doing their due diligence to ensure every dollar is well spent, if the police need a little more they should get it.
City council set the police budget's increase guideline at no more than 4.5 per cent.
The mayor thinks the two numbers — from the police service and city council — will be brought closer together by some incoming cash from Queen's Park.
Chief Bordeleau will table the budget on February 6.
