I just want to comment in light of the operating budget of the Belleville Police Service. It was adopted by the board of which I am a member. It had a 15% increase, compared to Council’s mandate of 5%.
I said in open session at the police board that the process would be for this to come back to Council, it would come to budget in February and from there Council would have a decision to make whether that is to send it back as we have done before for the police board to look at. Unfortunately, if we wait until February, we’re in a situation that we won’t be able to print tax bills.
I talked to the Chief today and the Chair, I have asked them to reconsider and look at the budget, I want to ensure that it is understood that this is not a comment on the exceptional work of the men and women of the service and the Audit Committee or the Budget Committee that did the budget, but it’s rather to ensure affordability for the community we all service is considered to the fullest extent possible.
That’s what I’d like to tell you tonight – that I’ve asked the chief and the chair to look at it. I’m not saying that anything will happen with it, but this way we can fully discuss it at our February budget meeting.
