Kingston calls for provincial funding to offset rising police costs

[Michael Jack]

Kingston's chief of police and mayor are urging the Ontario government to provide one-time funding to help local municipalities manage the rising costs of police services. The province recently proposed $77 million to assist municipalities serviced by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), following increased costs due to recent collective bargaining agreements.

However, Kingston Police also faced significant budget increases after settling contracts this year, placing a heavy financial burden on local taxpayers. The city is now requesting similar financial relief to address the impact of these rising costs.

While OPP-policed municipalities receive funding directly from the province, municipal police forces like Kingston’s are funded by local taxpayers. Kingston is asking for fair treatment, as other small and midsized municipalities are similarly affected by the increased policing costs.

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