Contentious Ottawa police budget comes before committee

More than a dozen members of the community, and some city councillors, are scheduled to speak to the Ottawa Police Services Board to discuss the proposed 2022 budget.

This is the first public consultation on the draft policing budget for next year, which includes a 2.9 per cent funding increase over 2021 levels, despite a direction to staff to draft an operating budget that "assumes a zero per cent increase as its base."

The proposed net operating budget for the service is $346.5 million in 2022, an increase of $14 million over 2021, which would add $19 to the average taxpayer's bill next year. The draft budget includes forgoing all 30 planned new officer positions in 2022. It also includes a plan to save $5.1 million through “efficiencies” such as a fleet and facilities rationalization exercise and the privatization of the collision reporting centres.

During last week's budget presentation, police services board chair Coun. Diane Deans said the board has "heard the calls for change." The councillor later said on social media that it would be "up to the board to refine" the proposed budget "in keeping with community expectations."

Her comment drew criticism from Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof.