The United Counties Council is looking at the cost of policing in our communities. Council passed a resolution supporting the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Police Modernization Report and its recommendations to ensure present and future challenges are met with respect to rising policing costs. Counties Council is also requesting the Ministry review the total remuneration of police officers in Ontario, including service pay, benefits and the arbitration system.
The resolution notes the 2014 Ontario Provincial Police wage increase cost Ontario property taxpayers an additional $25 million that year and has required significant increases in property taxes this year. The report demonstrates the current cost of policing is not sustainable.