Brockton takes action on ‘shocking’ OPP cost increase

[Michael Jack]

BROCKTON - The words Brockton council members used in reference to the annual OPP billing statement included “unsustainable,” “completely unacceptable,” “excessive,” “not affordable,” and “atrocious.”

Brockton is facing an increase amounting to over $700,000, which translates in a property tax increase of 6.5 per cent for that item alone – and considering other costs are increasing, taxpayers could easily get hit with an increase of double that amount.

Brockton isn’t alone.

A quick check of news stories from other communities indicates Collingwood’s OPP costs are up 37 per cent; in 2024, the town was billed $5.2 million for OPP services, and in 2025, it will be $7.1 million. (Collingwood Today)

Norfolk councillors expressed “shock” at the “astronomical” $3 million increase on the 2025 billing. (Woodstock Sentinel Review)

Mattawa’s CAO referred to the OPP billing increase of 21 per cent as “ludicrous.” (BayToday)

In Napanee, the words for the 23 per cent billing increase, which will require a tax increase of 6.1 per cent, were, “Holy moly!” (The Kingston Whig Standard)

It should be noted that Brockton’s increase amounts to 30 per cent which will require a tax increase of 6.5 per cent.

The report presented by Trish Serratore, chief financial officer, at the Oct. 22 meeting of Brockton council, had councillors united in their determination to get some answers – and hopefully some relief.

Mayor Chris Peabody said there’s a plan in the works for both Bruce County and Huron County to get some kind of balance in sharing the costs of hosting a court facility, similar to what’s been done in Grey County.

Brockton is covering all bases. A letter has been drafted and is being sent to Solicitor General Michael S. Kerzner, stating the urgent need for “an increase in grant funding for court security and prisoner transportation costs associated with small, Ontario courthouses.”

Serratore’s report stated the total annual billing for 2025 “has significantly increased by $757,080, rising from $2,534,534 in 2024 to $3,291,614 in 2025.”

The 2025 hike includes the 2023 year-end reconciliation of $263,323, due to the municipality’s underpayment. However, there is an overall increase in policing costs, particularly salaries and benefits.

The cost of calls for service has also increased. Although the actual number of calls for service decreased in 2023, the total estimated calls have increased from 2024 in the amount of $88,774.

The most contentious part of the billing for Brockton is the cost of court security and prisoner transportation – an increase of $363,308 from 2024. The credit from the province for court security and prisoner transportation has not been received to date, and there’s no word when – or even if, and if so, in what amount – it will.

The total cost for OPP services in 2025 has an increase of $603,470.

Serratore’s report noted the increase of $757,080 will have a significant impact on Brockton taxpayers.

Coun. Carl Kuhnke commented that the tax increase for this one item was more than the entire tax increase for last year. “I’m flummoxed; I have no idea how we’re going to manage this,” he said, noting taxpayers could easily be looking at a tax increase of more than 12 per cent. “It’s completely unacceptable.”

Coun. Greg McLean said he was “shocked.” He added that while he means no disrespect to OPP officers, the increase is “not acceptable.”

Coun. Tim Elphick, who has led the battle in Brockton against the municipality paying more than its fair share when it comes to court costs, stated that as a member of the former Brockton Police Services Board, and now the Detachment Board, he’s been dedicated to ensuring policing costs are both “attainable and sustainable” for the municipality.

He stated Brockton has been successful in having items removed from its billing statement that didn’t apply to the municipality, and made applications for provincial grants. However, since the introduction of the previous billing model in 2015, effective to 2019, Brockton has paid the maximum for policing in Ontario, at a time when the province had capped costs. The cap was removed in 2020, and since then, Brockton has paid “very high costs.” For the South Bruce detachment area, Brockton has the highest policing costs per property.

When the 2024 estimate was $497 per household, the OPP average across Ontario was only $348.

Elphick noted that estimates and estimated statements “were on a downward trend. … We had the right trajectory.” However, the estimate for 2025 “completely eliminates all of those efforts that have been undertaken by decision makers around this council table, and beyond.”

He went on to say, “There is no doubt a municipality like Brockton cannot continue to absorb the costs of the annual reconciliation for policing.

“We recognize and respect the dedication that all of the officers provide … but the way and the methods that are currently in place for municipal policing are no longer something that we can sustain.

“We cannot continue on an annual basis to face increases in reconciliation costs of … $200,000.

Elphick concluded by saying, “I think we’ve done what we can, but now … need to move quickly forward in lobbying efforts for additional funding support.”

Morover, there’s a need for ongoing commitments for the prisoner transport funding, and to ensure that municipalities that use Walkerton’s court facilities carry “their fair share of (the) costs.”

Elphick drew attention to the efforts in Grey County to “balance some of the costs” and said it’s time “we consider doing the same.”

He later commented on how changes to regional police services boards mean this is the first billing “in the absence of direct governance.” He went on to say that one would have thought the new model would have resulted in more of a sharing of costs, “a middle ground,” but “what we’re seeing now is an exponential cost increase. … across Ontario.” He noted that these costs will not be affordable for some. “We’re close to it. … We will need some assistance.”

Coun. Steve Travale said he shared concerns expressed by council, and noted Elphick had “touched on some potential action items” and ways forward.

Deputy Mayor Kym Hutcheon said, “I think everything’s been said – we’re very frustrated. And to tell our taxpayers that they’re going to have a minimum of 6.5 per cent increase is disgusting, and it’s out of our control right now.”

Coun. Mitch Clark echoed what the others had said, commenting that “when we read the report, we were all in shock at the increase.”

He went on to say the five-year increase from 2020 to 2025 is about 40 per cent – about double that of inflation. “This is not a matter of inflation went up, costs went up; this is excessive and beyond what I feel the costs should be … 6.5 per cent tax increase even before we look at any other items … is certainly going to present a number of challenges.”

Clark asked if other municipalities that rely on OPP are facing the same sort of increase.

Serratore said municipalities right across the province are affected. “Our increase was a 30 per cent increase for the costing … it ranged for all municipalities anywhere from a nine per cent to 65 per cent increase.”

She explained everyone is affected, although their tax rate increases are different, depending on their assessment. “It is definitely being felt across Ontario.

Moving forward

Before Peabody spoke on some of the ideas for moving forward, he commented on the policing contract department in Orillia. “They are the hardest people to deal with.” However, he added, “We need to keep pushing on. … This is extremely unfair. It puts everyone in Brockton at a disadvantage.”

He stated, “The numbers are really atrocious. The court security is going up to $900,000 … a $400,000 increase, almost double. Last year we received $380,000 to help with the court security and those costs were around $500,000, so we still had a deficit of around $115,000. This year there is no promise … of the court security grant even being restored. If we don’t get the $380,000 and the province decides to eliminate that, it will be even worse.”

Peabody said, “We are going to put together a proposal for all of Bruce County to share in those costs, as has happened in Grey. Huron County is presenting is also presenting such a proposal to their council this month.” The proposals for both Bruce and Huron will be the same. The CFOs for the two counties will work together on the proposals.

That’s one step, he said. “At the same time, as Tim (Elphick) pointed out, we need to lobby harder.” Peabody said he’s been in contact with MPP Lisa Thompson. “She said she’d be there for us, to assist us on this.”

He also spoke of a delegation. “We have been asking the Solicitor General for money … for a number of years … It’s like beating your head against the wall. … Not much has been achieved there; something’s going to have to change.”

Peabody said in reference to a suggestion from Travale that South Bruce OPP will be asked to speak to council; it will likely be the contract department and the inspector. This will give council the opportunity to ask questions about the billing model.

Another point Peabody made was that if the municipal departments around us (i.e. Hanover and Saugeen Shores) need OPP service in the form of the search and rescue helicopter, or the SWAT team, or forensics, for a murder investigation, “they don’t get charged for that, but in this billing statement, we’re paying for that service. … We’re paying for it, but our neighbours get it for free. … It’s absolutely wrong that we are paying such high fees and then subsidizing other people’s police services.”

And then there are calls for service. “Every call for service you do is $320,” said Peabody. He spoke of neighbourhood disputes that aren’t even criminal matters, and people call the police. “Every call … is costing us money. Let’s say, they think someone’s trespassing … we pay the bill.”

He said Brockton will be working on the county proposal, “but I really think the Solicitor General needs to pay attention, and not offer me platitudes – again.”

Travale spoke in favour of a delegation at ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference, Jan. 19-21, 2025).

Kuhnke added that since all rural counties in Ontario are “facing what we’re facing,” we have a very good case to make this a ROMA issue, not a county issue. If ROMA were to take this on … we’re talking of 10s if not 100s of millions of dollars out of rural Ontario for the OPP … we might make it a ROMA issue, which would make it a Premier issue, not a Solicitor General issue.”

Peabody commented on another set of numbers – Goderich’s court security went up 14 per cent only, while Brockton’s is up 86 per cent.

Elphick also commented on another set of numbers – Brockton’s policing cost per property will be $662; Fort Frances will see an increase to just under $800 per household, from $600 – “increasing exponentially again. It just goes to show … small town rural Ontario … is facing unrealistic, unattainable policing cost increases that must be responded to.”

He noted that every municipality in Ontario that has OPP as their policing partner will certainly remember this when it comes time to make further political decisions.

Peabody had the last word, by commenting that looking into municipal policing would require an expensive study costing $80,000 to $100,000, and police salaries in Ontario are on track for becoming uniform.

He added that he didn’t begrudge officers the salaries. He said his focus is on the court security. “The Walkerton courthouse has a catchment area of 80,000 people. Our population is 10,000 people, and we’re looking at a $900,000 bill for that courthouse – 12 per cent of the population, and 100 per cent of a basically $1 million bill. That’s where we have to direct our efforts.”

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