Belleville City Council approved a motion calling on the provincial government to be more equitable when it comes to policing costs.
In November, Ontario announced $77 million in a billing reduction for OPP services across Ontario municipalities.
Quinte News reached out to local municipal leaders to determine how much money would be reduced from the fees for OPP services.
The City of Belleville would not be affected by the billing reduction since they have their own police force – the Belleville Police Service.
Bringing forward the motion to council on Monday, Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis says that the city is not impervious to other surrounding municipalities’ incidents that involve police.
“I think it’s unfair for the province to bail out all the municipalities that have OPP costing that surround us but because we keep our own (police service) like Deep River, that we are punished for that,” Mayor Neil Ellis said in introducing the motion to council.
“We have a lot of problems that come from other municipalities, whether it’s car accidents from people being drawn in here, lots of crime and things like that. So being the hub we are, probably, and I know we are the busiest police force because we not only police the City of Belleville, we police about 50,000 people coming in here from the surrounding area. So I encourage the government to make this right.”
Councillor Kathryn Brown expressed her support for the motion saying that the city is deserving of similar provincial subsidies.
“All we’re asking for is fair and equitable treatment, regardless of who provides the policing services to our community,” Councillor Brown told council.
“We are advocating for the same 10% rebate that the OPP serviced municipalities are going to receive and I hope that we’ll work with other municipalities that have been disenfranchised by this decision by our provincial government.”
A copy of the motion is being sent to Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, local MPPs in the region like Bay of Quinte MPP Tyler Allsopp and Hastings—Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee as well as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and all municipalities in the province.
https://www.quintenews.com/2024/12/09/345725/
City of Belleville asking for more equitable policing costs
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City of Belleville asking for more equitable policing costs
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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Ontario should help Belleville pay rising police costs: Mayor Ellis
A motion by Mayor Neil Ellis asking the province for equitable financial assistance for Belleville to pay down rising policing costs was approved by council on Monday.
Ellis was speaking to a move by Ontario on Nov. 29 to provide $77 million to rural municipalities who will be provided a 10 per cent rebate on their double-digit OPP contract costs for 2025.
Belleville’s police budget for the year ahead is around $30 million but is not eligible for the provincial assistance because the city has its own municipal police force.
Ellis quipped Monday in council chambers, “maybe we should send them [the province] a bill for $300,000 and see if they pay it” referring to the rural policing rebate.
The mayor said Belleville police do more than just secure the city for residents but also provide policing measures for up to 50,000 visitors daily from neighbouring municipalities policed by the OPP.
“I think we all need to be treated equal in the sense that this is our tax dollars and we participate in taxes,” Ellis told council.
“I think it’s unfair for the province to bail out all the municipalities that have OPP costs that surround us, but because we are policed and kept out own municipal [police] like Deep River, we are punished for that. I think, in general, us being the hub … we have a lot of problems that come from other municipalities, whether it’s car accidents from people being drawn in here, lots of crime and things like that.”
Coun. Kathryn Brown voiced her support for Ellis’ motion.
“Having the province provide a 10 per cent subsidy for 2025 costs of OPP policing, while ignoring municipalities that pay the full freight for policing is unacceptable, we’re experiencing significantly and similar kinds of policing increases due to the collective agreements that have been negotiated,” she said.
“We are advocating for the same 10 per cent rebate that the OPP service municipalities are going to receive, and I hope that we’ll work with other municipalities that have been disenfranchised, by this decision by our provincial government,” Brown said.
Coun. Paul Carr agreed, adding “it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask the province for more money, we are certainly tied with our hands behind our back on a lot of fronts, that provinces put us in, so asking for some additional support would be worthy.”
https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/ontar ... ayor-ellis
Ellis was speaking to a move by Ontario on Nov. 29 to provide $77 million to rural municipalities who will be provided a 10 per cent rebate on their double-digit OPP contract costs for 2025.
Belleville’s police budget for the year ahead is around $30 million but is not eligible for the provincial assistance because the city has its own municipal police force.
Ellis quipped Monday in council chambers, “maybe we should send them [the province] a bill for $300,000 and see if they pay it” referring to the rural policing rebate.
The mayor said Belleville police do more than just secure the city for residents but also provide policing measures for up to 50,000 visitors daily from neighbouring municipalities policed by the OPP.
“I think we all need to be treated equal in the sense that this is our tax dollars and we participate in taxes,” Ellis told council.
“I think it’s unfair for the province to bail out all the municipalities that have OPP costs that surround us, but because we are policed and kept out own municipal [police] like Deep River, we are punished for that. I think, in general, us being the hub … we have a lot of problems that come from other municipalities, whether it’s car accidents from people being drawn in here, lots of crime and things like that.”
Coun. Kathryn Brown voiced her support for Ellis’ motion.
“Having the province provide a 10 per cent subsidy for 2025 costs of OPP policing, while ignoring municipalities that pay the full freight for policing is unacceptable, we’re experiencing significantly and similar kinds of policing increases due to the collective agreements that have been negotiated,” she said.
“We are advocating for the same 10 per cent rebate that the OPP service municipalities are going to receive, and I hope that we’ll work with other municipalities that have been disenfranchised, by this decision by our provincial government,” Brown said.
Coun. Paul Carr agreed, adding “it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask the province for more money, we are certainly tied with our hands behind our back on a lot of fronts, that provinces put us in, so asking for some additional support would be worthy.”
https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/ontar ... ayor-ellis
Michael Jack, Administrator