Magnetawan takes a stand on prposed OPP billing

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?

Magnetawan takes a stand on prposed OPP billing

Postby Thomas » Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:34 pm

MAGNETAWAN – Policing costs are going up and the municipality wants the province to do something about it.

At last week’s meeting, Magnetawan council passed a resolution calling on the province to take back responsibility for the policing of municipalities with a population of 5,000 or less. The resolution follows similar motions from municipalities across the province protesting news that the cost for OPP services is about to go up considerably.

Sam Dunnett, mayor of Magnetawan, said the numbers he’s getting would mean serious changes in the operations of the municipality.

“It’s an increase that’s going to be unbearable for municipalities like ours. 268 per cent increase, that’s just unheard of, and the tax rate will go sky high,” said Dunnett.

Magnetawan pays about $170,000 for policing services. If the change goes through the way it’s projected to that bill would go up to around $600,000.

The proposed change shifts the billing model from one that bills municipalities partly based on the activity expected in the area to one entirely based on the number of households in an area.

The proposed change has led to many municipalities taking another look at instituting municipal police forces. The OPP has argued the change is an equitable way to bill for their services.

“When you read what it is, it doesn’t say anything about sharing on activity and household basis. It’s solely on households. It’s the easiest way to do it but it’s not the fairest,” said Dunnett.

“I really think the government should be taking a lead role on this and not a committee. The government knows exactly the damage this is going to do to rural municipalities like ours, and it will do considerable damage.”

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