Proposed 2.1% increase to 2016 GSPS budget

The Greater Sudbury Police Services Board presented their proposed 2016 operating budget on Nov. 18.

Highlighted in the 2016 budget by GSPS chief Paul Pedersen is a commitment to achieve the same high standard of policing while maintaining a zero growth budget that remains at the status quo.

Total police expenses accounted for 11 per cent of the city's total expenses in 2015 and the 2016 budget will remain around that figure, with a modest 2.1 per cent increase from last year, up to $53,651,856.

In that 2.1 per cent increase, 1.8 per cent is attributed to salaries and compensation, as well as absorbing 0.1 per cent of lost net revenue as the GSPS will not receive PAVIS (Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy) funding in 2016.

Pedersen says that this will not impact strategy when it comes to curbing violence and that the GSPS will absorb the $451,500 shortfall.

The largest portion of the proposed budget parallels the biggest percentage of the increase, as 85 per cent of the 2016 budget will be allocated to salaries and benefits. Also included in the budget is a 12 per cent allocation for operating costs such as fleet maintenance, communications, information technology, uniforms and building leases.

The GSPS's proposed budget increase once again falls below the provincial average, a point of pride emphasized by Pedersen.

“We are still meeting all of our legal obligations,” said Pedersen. “What's unique about Sudbury is its size, we're the Toronto of the north, we are the largest municipality in Ontario and we cover the largest land mass. We have to police city and rural and we're doing so once again in 2016 with 264 officers, we have added no new officers to this budget.”

Last year the GSPS fielded more than 60,000 calls for service, with just 15 per cent of those being offence-related.

“Crime stats account for just 15 per cent of what we do,” said Pedersen. “We get calls related to alcohol, those aren't criminal offense but we still have to answer those calls. There's time spent gathering intelligence, and undercover work.

Pedersen also touched on the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and the growing need for increased security at large gatherings.

“There is a need for us to be present at these things; the vigil that was held over the weekend for the victims of the attacks, we have to coordinate a full operational plan to provide security. We'll be doing the same thing for the Santa Claus parade.”

The GSPS board was pleased with the proposed budget, but board member Michael Vagnini motioned that the board take some additional time before approving it and bringing it before council. The motion was passed unanimously.