Hamilton council votes against using surplus police money for social programs

Hamilton city council voted down usingyear-end surpluses from the local police service for social programs.

Coun. Nrinder Nann (Ward 3) moved the motion on Thursday that would direct staff to create a policy sending surplus funds from the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) into a community resiliency reserve.Ten councillors and the mayor voted opposed,while Nann and Coun.Maureen Wilson (Ward 1) were in favour. Three councillors were absent.

The money, the motion said, was intended to go toward "housing and community-led supports and services to address homelessness, mental health, addictions and substance use that center prevention and intervention."

"It's time to put those funds toward what has been underfunded to invest in community-based crisis response supports and services," said Nanninthe general issues committee meeting.

"It's time to agree that we will not ignore the anguish in our neighbourhoods...to show to the world that in times of crisis we won't lead by doing more of the same."

Surplus used for capital items

ButCoun. Chad Collins (Ward 5) said a policy already exists, allowing police to keep variances if they have one. He requested it in 2014, and it passed in 2015. He said it's similar to thetreatment of other boards and agencies,like the library and farmers' market.

Collins said the police use their reserves for purchasing items related to the capital budget, such as vehicles and computers. What the service can't accommodate in their reserves, he said, they submit through the city's budget process.

"What's in front of us makes no financial sense," Collins said, noting police wouldcome before the city for a shortfall.

Jackie Penman, spokesperson for HPS, says the current reserves are at$850,000 and $1.3 million.

Mike Zegarac, finance general manager, confirmed that money taken by the city, which is part of the HPS's budget strategy, would still have to be borne by the city and off the levy.

Either way, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger,the costs land on the tax payers.

Eisenberger and Coun. Lloyd Ferguson (Ward 12)pointed to the new forensics building, which was partially funded from police reserves, but also city reserves and by selling the former Mountain station.

Both also referencedthe future build of a newDivision 4 station, which Ferguson saidis down to eight or nine years out. Taking money away, he said, takes away an incentive to be efficient.

"When you have a use it or lose policy, it gets used," Ferguson said.

"There's got to be a better way of doing it," said Coun. Tom Jackson (Ward 6), who said he doesn't believe in taking from the police service.

Even if resources are lacking for services in the community, Eisenbergersaid the motion was more about "optics" than making change.

"We could all agree that it isn't enough. That more resources could be found, potentially from federal or provincial governments. This is really an attempt to realign someone's belief that police services are funded inappropriately," he said.

If people want to defund the police, he said, then someone should bring a motion to the table so it can be debated and the city can "put that issue to bed."

Wilsonsaid the move was not a "flavour of the month" for her, nor was it a "political" or "woke moment." She said it also wasn't an anti-police suggestion.

There isn't an ongoing police crisis, Wilson said, and they need to be supported in doing their core job. But there is a mental health crisis, a hunger crisis, and an opioid crisis, she said.

"It just so happens I believe in this, and have always believed in this," Wilson said.

"Prevention always trumps enforcement," she said.

Nann said she perhaps had a"duty and obligation" as the only racializedperson at the council table to say that the 15 and 20 per cent of people who are dissatisfied deserved to be heard, not vilified, and have programs designed and informed by their lived experiences.

"It's important to listen to those who have had really unfortunate experiences accessing public service, and to ask the question what we can to do better."she said.

While other councillors say they're ready to have the conversation, Nann said she wants to see where they think those dollars are going to come from.

Eisenberger said the police are a participant in the community safety and well-being plan, which is supposed to come out by the end of July. He said some opportunities might come out of that.