Halifax Regional Police budget could see 10% increase

The budget for Halifax's police department could go up by about10 per centdespite attempts by municipalfinance officials to cap the increase inthe city's overall budget at1.6 per cent.

The mainfactor in the hike is an arbitration ruling in August that gave police officers annual salary increases of 2.75 per cent each year over a five-year contract. HalifaxPolice Chief Jean-Michel Blais is also hoping tohire fournew civilian employees.

"It's entirely up to the Board [of Police Commissioners]," said Blais. "And then their recommendation goes to council."

The current police budget is $86.6 million.The proposed budget is$87.6 million.

The city's police commission will go through the proposed budget in more detail at its December meeting. Additionally, there are acouple of items that have not yet been included in the budget:

• The Halifax RCMP wantHalifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to hire two new crime analysts.
• Commission members want to offer volunteers free criminalbackground checks.

Currently, volunteers pay $30 for the background checks.Anyone getting the check for employment purposes pays $50.

If the fees are waived for volunteers, it could cost the police departmentmore than $400,000.But Coun. Steve Craig, chair of the police commission,still thinks it's worth considering.

"I think this is one area that I'd support," he said. "Isn't it a service to the broader community?"