Policing costs a major factor in increase, mayor says

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?

Policing costs a major factor in increase, mayor says

Postby Thomas » Fri Mar 20, 2015 2:26 pm

Ramara Township residents can expect their taxes to go up about 4.75% in 2015.

An increase in the cost of the provincial police and a reduction in a provincial grant are behind about half of that hike, said treasurer Margaret Black.

Ramara’s total tax rate was about 1% before, Black said, so for every $100,000 a house is valued at, residents’ bills will go up about $47.50.

That 4.75% increase includes the 1% Simcoe County tax increase and the fact no change in Ontario education taxes is expected.

Mayor Basil Clarke still has some concerns about the budget, which goes to council for ratification March 23.

Every year for the next four years, Clarke estimated, Ramara’s increase will be about what it is this year, “just to cover the increase in policing.”

OPP’s new cost-recovery formula was effective Jan. 1.

It’s up $214,579, or 24.2%, over 2014, when the bill was projected at about $886,000.

As it’s being phased in, this year, Ramara is looking at an increase of $215,000 over last year’s $886,000 bill. Had that not been the case, this year’s $1.1 million would have been $1.8 million.

“It’s a huge jump. It’s more than doubled the cost of our policing under the new formula,” Clarke said.

In the past, changes to OPP’s billing has meant Ramara has paid more than OPP projected at budget time.


Ramara used to have a reserve fund to to cover excess costs, but there is nothing in that reserve fund right now if the bill is higher.

Clarke said he’d still like to see some money added to it.

The township’s Ontario Municipal Partnership Grant is about $300,000 less this year than it was last year.

“That’s another big hit,” Black said.

Making up the difference impacts the township’s bottom line, but some investments have to be make, Clarke said.

“We don’t want to cut our emergency services, like fire. They do so many ambulance assists. This is a life-saving matter,” he said.

The township needs to replace one of its fire-rescue vans this year.

“The vans are out all the time with motor-vehicle accidents,” Clarke said.

“Instead of buying the very expensive van,” he continued, “we’re going to go with a four-door pickup truck with a utility box on the back.”

The township is allocating about $200,000 to purchase that vehicle and equip it for the fire department.

“When it all boils down, we usually end up cutting out paving projects that we want to go ahead with because we simply can’t afford them,” he said.

To avoid that this year, when it comes to replacing equipment in the department, the township’s roads superintendent has sourced out some that is gently used and is exploring rentals.

“She’s even looking into different technologies on road construction to try and cut the costs,” Clarke said.

The township is committed to a major reconstruction of Glenrest and Amilia drives, just east of Bayshore Village. The project, with a price tag of $1.2 million, will take two years to complete. This year, $600,000 has been earmarked for it.

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