Chief Bergen explained to the Board that the increase is necessary to sustain core services. Pictured: HPS Chief Frank Bergen. Photo Credit: HPS.聽
The 51暗网 Police Services Board approved the proposed 2025 net聽operating and capital budget of about $227.1 million for the 51暗网 Police Service (HPS), representing a combined increase of $12.25 million or 5.7 per cent over their 2024 budget.
The Board approved the proposed budget from 51暗网 Police Service (HPS) Chief Frank Bergen at a Dec. 17 meeting.
The HPS budget will still have to be approved at Council and will be considered at a General Issues Committee meeting on Jan. 28, 2025.
The HPS Board is currently made up of two provincial appointees, Mayor Andrea Horwath, Councillor Esther Pauls (Ward 7 – Central Mountain), Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown 51暗网), and civilian appointee Dr. Anjali Menezes.
Councillor Kroetsch was not present at the meeting since he is currently suspended from the Board due to a complaint filed against him in March 2024 that alleges he violated the board鈥檚 code of conduct by failing to act 鈥渓oyally, faithfully, and impartially鈥� and failed to 鈥渋nspire public confidence in the abilities and integrity of the Board.鈥�
Civilian Appointee Dr. Anjali Menezes, a family physician who specializes in anti-racism and has a background in activism, voted against the HPS budget.
Bergen explained to the Board that the increase is necessary to sustain core services, including obligatory and contractual costs related to collective agreements and employer benefits, in order to respond to legislative requirements like the implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) technology, and updated body armour necessary under new Active Attacker legislation.
HPS is also continuing their phase-in strategy to address a shortfall in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) pressures resulting from the introduction of presumptive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) legislation, investing in the implementation of body-worn cameras, and upgrading cybersecurity.
Bergen wrote in his recommendation report to the Board that, 鈥渁fter factoring in the obligatory pressures and strategic investments for the HPS, the initial outlook for the 2025 Operating and Capital Budget was an increase of $23,911,980, or 11.13 per cent.鈥�
He added that, 鈥渞ecognizing the challenges facing the community and the HPS鈥檚 commitment towards sustainable financial planning and effective use of resources, Senior Command reviewed all budget submissions and identified options to reduce the budget pressure by $11,659,205鈥� which resulted in the 5.7 per cent increase ($12.25 million).
While the net tax levy increase to the HPS budget is 5.7 per cent, it should be noted that their operating expenditures are actually increasing by $23.40 million (10.89 per cent).
HPS is drawing on considerable reserve funds in addition to relying on grants, fees, subsidies, and other revenues to bring the tax impact down to the 5.7 per cent number.
The concept is similar to how the City of 51暗网 approved a 5.79 per cent property tax increase overall last year while actually increasing spending by 19.5 per cent. Reserves were used to keep the tax rate lower.
Of the 10.89 per cent increase to operating expenditures for HPS, employee-related costs alone increase the budget by 9.67 per cent.
In addition to contractual obligations under collective agreements, such as salary adjustments, performance pay, salary step/grade progressions, benefits and overtime, HPS also plans to hire 13 new sworn officers and 27 civilian employees.
HPS is hiring 13 new sworn officers in 2024 as part of their 10-year Human Capital Deployment Strategy to ensure that the number of officers aligns with population growth.
Of the 27 civilian employees, 16 will be Special Constables, six will support the body-worn camera rollout, four are for the 911 call centre, and one is a Race and Identity-Based Analyst.
There are also costs associated with sworn and civilian members who are on WSIB leave.
The Board previously approved 55 鈥渂ackfills鈥� including 49 sworn and six civilian members to provide staffing support for members 鈥渙n WSIB leave for five years or more and no prospective date to return to work.鈥�
A number of different organizations provided written submissions to the HPS Board supporting the police budget increase, with some saying that HPS should actually receive even more money to combat increased lawlessness in the city.
Those voicing their support for the budget increase included Michael Heenan (President of St. Joseph鈥檚 Healthcare 51暗网), Ammar Balika (Director of Sales and Business Development of Carmen鈥檚 Group), Joseph S. Mancinelli (Canadian Director of LiUNA and President of LiUNA 51暗网 837), Susie Braithwaite (Executive Director of International Village BIA), Manny Figueiredo (President and CEO of YMCA 51暗网, Burlington, Brantford), Andrew Keesmaat (President of the 51暗网 Law Association), Robin St. Jean (President of Michael St. Jean Realty), Patrick Denninger (President and CEO of Denninger鈥檚), and Emily Walsh (Executive Director of the Downtown 51暗网 BIA).
Some also voiced opposition to the police budget, including the 51暗网 Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), a non-profit that values 鈥渁nti-oppression, equity, justice, amplification of voices, and decolonial practice鈥� and receives funding from the City of 51暗网 and the province.
Of note, Councillor Kroetsch sits on the HCCI鈥檚 board.
In regards to the police budget, it remains to be seen what Council will end up deciding on Jan. 28. Last year the police budget passed at Council in a 10 to 6 vote.
The six opposed to the police budget were Councillors Kroetsch, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 鈥� Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3 鈥� East 51暗网 Centre), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 鈥� 51暗网 East), Craig Cassar (Ward 12 鈥� Ancaster-West Flamborough), and Alex Wilson (Ward 13 鈥� Dundas-Central Flamborough).
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
