HomeMy Public PortalAboutPolice Cost - PolicyCOUNCIL
POLICY Effective Date - February 26, 2018
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Section: Council
Title: Police Costs
PURPOSE
This policy is to establish a responsible program to help fund the expected significant
increase in police costs that would start in the year 2022. Municipalities with populations
from 5,000 to 14,999 pay 70 percent of the cost base described in the policing agreements.
The Government of Canada pays the remaining 30 percent. In the latest census (2016)
provided by Statistics Canada the Town of Oliver’s population is 4,928 residents.
SCOPE
This policy applies to Town of Oliver Council and the Chief Financial Officer responsible
for preparing the Town’s Budget on an annual basis.
POLICY STATEMENTS
1.Key Principles
1.1 Saving for the future, while paying for capital projects
Council is concerned about the significant increase in property taxes at the time
the Town’s population exceeds the 5,000 threshold. However, there are also
significant capital projects that need to be completed over the next 6 years. By
increasing property taxes in a steady manner over the next 6 years this ensures
that the property tax base is at a sufficient level to handle the expected police
costs.
While Council is building the tax base for the expected police costs the funds will
be used to fund capital projects. However, over the 6 years the annual Capital
Budget will initially be deliberated without including the proposed tax increase to
address future police costs. Then additional capital projects will be approved on
an annual basis and are the projects deemed necessary by Council during that
respective year.
1.2 Transition from capital projects to Police Costs
In the year that the Town of Oliver starts paying for the police costs (2022
anticipated) the money that was allocated in previous year’s capital projects will
be shifted from amount available for capital projects to the police costs. At this
time Council will review the amount available for capital projects.