Councillors critical of police budget

Board projects a 6.75 per cent jump in policing costs

By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope March 2 2011

The South Simcoe Police Board should take a stand on salaries, or find efficiencies elsewhere in its 2011 Operating Budget, according to residents and local politicians.

With the board projecting a 6.75 per cent budget increase this year, members hosted a public open forum at the Churchill Community Centre last week. The crowd mostly consisted of Bradford and Innisfil councillors and staff, and a handful of residents. However, there was some harsh criticism of the board’s spending practices, both in this budget and over the last few years.

“I’m not trying to diminish what the officers get, if it’s a proper comparator, but sometimes you’ve got to test the waters,” said councillor Doug Lougheed, a retired veteran of the police service.

Lougheed suggested the board should consider purchasing vehicles and other equipment, instead of leasing. Vehicles for high ranking members of the force, including Chief Bruce Davis, should also be leased over a longer term, to achieve the greatest cost efficiencies.

“I believe, beyond even the wage increase, that there is significant efficiencies that can be found,” said Lougheed. “Hopefully, the board will find those efficiencies. You gotta reduce the budget by finding efficiencies.

“Leases are things that concern me. We pay the cost of the item, plus interest, plus potentially an up-charge and administration cost. I added up $750,000 in leases per year, and a lot of that is vehicles.”

“What detailed analysis has ever been done in relation to leasing versus purchasing versus other innovative ways?” Said Lougheed.

The $15.5 million budget includes the hiring of one officer, and a strategic plan update. Salaries account for about 87.4 per cent of the service’s budget, with the remainder split amongst equipment, fleet, facility maintenance and discretionary costs.The increase is being mostly blamed on a 4.5 per cent hike in ‘collective agreement’ obligations like salaries, benefits and rank promotions.

“I hear a lot of political rhetoric coming from the board,” said local resident Bob Younger. “I’m a pensioner, getting a less than one per cent adjustment this year. How does a this community possibly justify increases of 4.5 per cent? This board (should have) the courage or guts and do what people like (former Premier) Mike Harris did, and say hold on, you’ve gone too far and exceeded your budget.”

However, others say violating collective agreements could lead to legal issues and increased costs.

“Part of the problem with the negotiations of a collective agreement is that if we can’t come to an agreement with the association, we are subject to a process of conciliation and arbitration,” said board chair Patti Vanderdonk. “We’re involved in paying some significant legal costs to fight our side of that. If we can’t come to an agreement, it goes to a provincially appointed arbitrator, who looks at surrounding municipalities … and will almost always rule in favour of whatever neighbouring service received. The board has spent the extra money, coming out with the same outcome.”

Technically, the board acts autonomously, only taking advice on the budget from Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil councils. So, the councils can provide input and refuse to support it, but the board is not required to implement suggestions. If the board and councils cannot agree on a final budget, it can be appealed to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

“They will look at it to ensure the municipalities have adequate and effective service,” said Vanderdonk. “We’re taking this back to the board for further deliberation. It is still in process. We’re doing what we can to meet the needs of the community, and keeping the fiscal responsibility aspect in line. We want to hear what we do right, and what we can improve.”

South Simcoe currently employs 80 uniformed officers and 43 civilian staff. Officers also respond to every call for service, regardless of the seriousness. It’s a standard that has led to one of the highest call volumes in the province.

But the board has been trying to keep budget increases reasonable, which has actually led to understaffing issues. South Simcoe has one officer for every 768 residents, one of the lowest ratios in the province.

“I have a great deal of respect for the officers out there on the street,” said councillor Lynn Dollin. “If the OPP are the bad guys driving all the costs up, why is it that our neighbours to the west (in the Nottawasaga OPP region) with the same population and same characters of the community can get their policing for approximately $2 million cheaper? They’re deliriously happy with their service. They can pick their service. They’ve got one detachment commander, we’ve got a chief, deputy chief, and god knows how many assistants, human resources assistants and inspectors. That’s where the difference is.”

At least one Bradford councillor supports the budget, suggesting the high risk associated with policing means the board should meet its negotiated obligations.

“The cost of policing is extremely high, but it’s going to take government legislation, (or) situations where money becomes so tight, eventually the lid is going to go on by itself,” said Bradford councillor

Del Crake. “I get the feeling the police department is being used as a whipping boy. There are a lot of people whose depiction of a police officer is of someone going to a donut shop, collecting $65,000 or $70,000 a year. I don’t think very many people in this room have gone to work with a gun for 15 or 25 years, or have been a wife wondering whether her husband is going to come home from his shift.

“Tht’s one of the reasons these people make a little extra. They are out there protecting you. This is the edge of the GTA, and the Toronto influence is very prevalent. If there’s a degrading of the police department, there will be a degrading of the community.”

The board is expected to debate the budget at an upcoming meeting.