Hawkesbury mayor welcomes provincial funding for policing costs

[Michael Jack]

The Mayor of Hawkesbury is relieved that the Ontario government has announced funding to help offset the increased costs of policing services from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

On Friday, November 29, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner announced the provincial government will provide more than $77 million in financial relief to municipalities to help offset the increased cost of OPP services. The funding is primarily intended for small and rural municipalities facing the cost increases resulting from the collective bargaining agreement reached between the province and the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) in July 2024.

“Absolutely, it’s good news,” said Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Lefebvre, in response to the provincial announcement.

The Town of Hawkesbury is projecting a 9.5 per cent tax levy increase in 2025. More than half of that increase is due to greater OPP costs.

According to Lefebvre, the town will pay about $567,000 more for OPP services in 2025. He projected that the town could receive $506,000 from the funding announced on November 29, which would cover 90 per cent of the increase.

“It’s certainly welcome news,” Lefebvre remarked.

He said the funding will greatly assist with preparing the 2025 municipal budget, which council will likely adopt on Monday, December 9. Council could revisit the projected levy increase due to the influence the provincial funding may have on policing costs.

Lefebvre is concerned though because the funding announced on November 29 is only for one year, so it is still not clear how municipalities will have to address policing costs when they prepare their 2026 budgets.

The provincial announcement will also provide municipalities with a 3.75 per cent bill reduction on 2023 total reconciled policing costs, a 44 per cent bill reduction on 2023 reconciled overtime costs, and a 10 per cent bill reduction on amounts invoiced for 2025 policing costs.

The province will also be examining options for reviewing the OPP billing model to ensure that it meets the needs of communities across the province. Lefebvre is also pleased with that part of the announcement.

“There needs to be a review of the funding model,” he said.

Lefebvre explained policing costs and needs vary between small, urban municipalities like Hawkesbury and less densely-populated rural areas. He also added that due to Hawkesbury’s role as a regional hub for industrial, commercial, health services, and education, the non-resident population of the town is much greater.

“We’re not only 10,000 (people), we’re maybe 20,000,” Lefebvre said.

https://thereview.ca/2024/12/03/hawkesb ... ing-costs/