The Police Services Board budget is a topic of conversation even though it’s separate from the Operating and Capital Budgets.
“That budget is subject to independent, external auditing and that information is reported to the Police Services Board that provides oversight to that,” says City Manager Norm Gale.
Back in October the proposed 2021 budget of $53 million for the Police Services Board got the thumbs up of approval.
The spending plan included a 2.5% increase over 2020 made up of, among other items, wage increases.
Related: Police Board Accepts Draft Budget
Board Chair and Westfort Ward Councillor Kristen Oliver does recognize the price of having police in Thunder Bay.
“Yes policing costs are high, our police numbers are high but look at our call for service and the volume of violent crime [that officers are facing]. It’s unfortunate but it’s sort of the reality that we’re facing in our community,” Oliver says.
Oliver notes there were shortfalls with the board, including grants from the province that weren’t provided as well as officers in court service being displaced following the October fire.
Related: Top Floors Of Courthouse Damaged After Fire
“With the court house not being used for court, we have all of those officers spread out throughout the community,” Oliver adds. “We’ve had to re-dispatch court security in all of these other buildings that are currently housing the court system.”
