2017 Ottawa Police draft budget includes $8.9 million increase

_ (press release) _ Today, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) tabled the 2017 Draft Operating and Capital Budge t with the Ottawa Police Services Board.

The projected 2017 net operating budget for the OPS will be $285.9 million on a gross operating budget of $320.2 million with a police tax rate increase of 2%.

This is a net incremental operating budget increase of $8.9 million over 2016. Expected assessment growth and other adjustments are estimated at $3.3 million. The budget results in a net increase to the police tax rate of $11 per year for the average residence.

“This budget is in line with the direction of the Board and addresses the policing needs of Ottawa residents,” said Ottawa Police Services Board Chair Eli El-Chantiry.

Budget Priorities

The budget adds 25 new sworn members to the current staff complement. The hires are on top of replacement hires for retirements. It also forecasts an additional 25 new sworn member hires in 2018 to complete a three-year, 75 new sworn member hiring plan.

The budget also includes funding for the expansion of other priorities like the employee wellness programs, efficiency programs, training and the introduction of new digital and online capabilities within the OPS. It also includes funding for the development of a feasibility study on body worn cameras.

“We developed this budget to meet the policing needs of our community and to address the needs of our members,” said Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau. “As a police service we continue to focus on our organizational priorities of guns and gangs, violence against women and traffic safety while planning for the major events expected in 2017 related to Canada’s 150th celebration.”

Funding for 2017 related events is assumed to come from other sources like paid duties and recoveries from other levels of government.

Expenditure Reductions and Efficiencies

In addition to the forecasted $2 million in efficiencies, expenditure reductions and other strategies were identified to ensure the budget target of 2% was met. They include:

 * 
$2M overtime pressure addressed through engaging the active staffing strategy;

 * 
$1.5M Service Initiative (SI) implementation costs addressed by repurposing existing capital funds;

 * 
$0.5M inflationary costs absorbed in base budgets;

 * 
$0.5M needed for carryover 2016 projects funded one-time from the general reserve.

The SI has completed two major projects in 2016 with the launch of the Strategic Operations Centre and the realignment of investigative units. The program will continue into 2017 as the Front Line Deployment strategy goes live.

“We continue to work to ensure that our deployment is as effective as possible even as we increase the number of officers in our complement,” said Chief Bordeleau.

The Budget includes efficiency and cost-saving targets for the next three years and a forecast for future sworn officer requirements. These have been developed to balance future budget constraints while addressing increasing and future service requirements associated with population growth, emerging crime trends, operational readiness and the increasing complexity of policing.

Have your say…

The Ottawa Police Service wants to hear from residents and business about their thoughts on the 2017 Budget.

Members of the public can comment on the 2017 Draft Budget at the beginning of the regular meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board on November 28, 2016, at 4 p.m. in the Champlain Room, City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue, 2nd floor. The Ottawa Police 2017 Budget is scheduled for approval by the Board on 28 November 2016 and by City Council on December 14, 2016.

A complete copy of the Ottawa Police Service 2016 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets is available for viewing or downloading on ottawapolice.ca . As well, it can be requested through info@ottawapolice.ca .