AMO takes a stand on OPP model dividing municipalities

Obscenely high and unsustainable policing costs. OPP bills are destroying communities its officers are supposed to protect. Apparent self-interest is cloaked in the guise of public safety needs. Where is the political outrage while OPP costs continue to climb? Who is going to bring policing costs in this province under control?

AMO takes a stand on OPP model dividing municipalities

Postby Thomas » Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:11 pm

ALMAGUIN – Municipalities are being asked to stand together in the face of a billing model that is “dividing municipalities.”

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is moving ahead with a steering committee to tackle a proposed OPP billing model the Association president says is dividing municipalities.

In a letter to municipalities dated Jan. 31, Association of Municipalities of Ontario president Russ Powers emphasized the concerns expressed by municipalities over the proposed OPP billing model set to take affect in 2015.

“Hundreds of Ontario municipalities are concerned, and frustrated, with efforts to improve the fairness and transparency of the OPP’s billing model,” he wrote. “AMO’s Board of directors recognize that OPP costs and the rising cost of policing in general, are concerns for all municipalities. AMO believes we all need to pull together and work together to approach this challenge from the strongest possible position.”

“We must stand together,” he writes.

Powers writes municipalities have tried to approach the problem in a way that works for the provincial government and the OPP and “it’s time to demand greater appreciation from the government of municipal needs,” he said. “The OPP has tried to simplify a complex problem; municipalities need a comprehensive and transparent solution.”

The letter also shows some of the disparity under the current billing model with some municipalities paying as little as $9 per household and others, more than $1,000.

He also states that residents of unorganized townships should be “paying their fair share.”

Powers says the capacity of property taxpayers to adjust to sudden changes is limited.

“AMO is also concerned that discussions about the billing model are shielding the Ontario government and the OPP from the root issue, which is unchecked growth and policing costs. In addition to addressing how OPP costs are allocated, Ontario must address the need for greater efficiency, more cost effective approaches to policing whether own force or OPP, and changes to interest arbitration,” he writes. “All communities must have access to affordable and effective policing, now and in the future.”

Pat Vanini, AMO’s executive director, says that the OPP consulted with municipalities in late 2013, and although not everyone could see their numbers, headed back to do their own analysis under the proposed new billing model.

She says the result was policing costs in the more hub communities, such as towns, would go down, whereas others would see their costs rise, however she adds that for some the swings are pretty great.

She says those municipalities seeing drops are pleased because, since the advent of the formula calculations in 1998, many have felt they were paying higher policing costs than they should.

However, she once heard the new model likened to moving the chairs from one side of the Titanic to the other.

“And we’ve got to deal with the chairs because they want this model to be effective by 2015… if you’re going to do that you’re going to have to back that up because it does require a whole other sort of administrative work when the cabinet does make a final decision,” she said. “Not only do we have to look at that but we’re also anxious about the condition of the titanic”

She says, stepping away from the billing model issue, a review of non-core policing should be looked at and states that the delivery of policing hasn’t been reviewed since 1998.

“Then there are other cost drivers such as collective bargaining agreements. Attached to that people are now seeing the 8.5 per cent raise for the OPP. That has been playing into some of the cost issues, as well as what happens in the interest arbitration world,” she said.

Vanini says the complexities of the issue cannot be ignored however, the steering committee is looking at the OPP billing model and trying to make sure that whatever model comes out is manageable for everyone,” she said. “It can reflect shared interests as well as some of the other more systemic issues about the cost drivers.”

She says the direction of AMO’s board is to have a committee comprised of municipalities who are impacted differently under the proposed billing model.

“The cities in Ontario have their own forces so they’re not OPP policed. Most of it would be what I would call rural, small town, Northern Ontario representatives on the steering committee,” she said.

Vanini says she hopes the steering committee will take away the competing interests of the impacted municipalities“…try to figure out where we have some shared interests and is there a better way moving forward,” she said.

She adds then it is up to the willingness of government to receive that advice.

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