Early Waterloo regional police budget shows service could ask for 6 to 8% increase next year

Early numbers show theWaterloo Regional Police Service has forecasted a six to eight per cent operating budget increase for 2024.

The service is recommending the hiring of18 additional "sworn" staff members, which would result in the eight per cent increase, but it was stressed during Wednesday's police services board meetingthat the figures aren't finalized.

"I think those are just very, very preliminary numbers," board member Tony Giovinazzosaid during the meeting.

"We haven't really talked about it at the board level so I don't want anyone hooking into those numbers and feeling that those are pegged potential increases yet because we haven't, as a board, had the opportunity to really discuss what we're looking forward to in the next year and how that will impact the budget."

The police service isaiming to have a finalized police budget for the region's approval by Dec. 13, policeChief Mark Crowell said

"This is not the first year where we've had a budget in a contentious economic climate where we know that ... scrutiny that is fair and balanced will come in any way, shape and form and we welcome it, and that's what the community expects and deserves," Crowell said.

Feedback from regional council

The 2023 police budget was $214 million, which caused debate among regional council.

Unlike last year, Crowellsaid that the regional council will provide input into the budget in October and November, prior to its approval.

"We look forward to a robust and important dialogue with not only our board but also regional council in the fall, and there will be fair and open opportunity to provide insight and input," he said.

The public will have the opportunity to have their say, too.

"OnJuly 12, these are very early days as we put together a robust and comprehensive budget," Crowell said."We're still putting together the nuts and bolts of what the budget will entail."