Halifax council weighs proposed increases to police budget

Halifax regional council is struggling with proposed increases to the city'spolice budget.

The Halifax Regional Police forcewhich covers Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedfordis asking for an additional $500,000on top of nearly $8 million for arbitrated salary increases.

The federal government will coverthe other 30 per cent.

The city's budget for next year is already expected to includea 1.9 per cent increaseto the average homeowner's tax bill.

"I'm struggling a little bit with this one, I really am,because we put pretty stringent guidelines in place for budget," said Mayor Mike Savage.

"My preference at this point would be to say, look, we would ask the police commission to give us another plan. Either prioritize the positions you need, or,can you phase it in over two or three years? This is going to be a tough year."

Councillors deferred thedecision on the RCMP request until the end of March.