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Council missing the reality of police costs says MacDougall
An emotional Police Chief Phil Nelson - "Public safety is a huge issue and it is tough to do your work when you don't know whether you are going to have a job"
Police chief Phil Nelson wept for joy.
After more than three years City Council is abandoning an Ontario Provincial Police costing study and will continue with its local police service. The decision was gut - wrenching and emotional and could potentially cost Councilor Bev MacDougall her political career.
In an eight to one decision Council dropped the $50,000.00 study after it became clear potential OPP cost savings would be difficult and expensive to implement.
Switching to Ontario Provincial Police Service would save the City a million dollars annually but at nearly $9 million in implementation costs for severance, pension - buy - ins, lease buy - outs and building upgrades.
Finance director Brian McKay told Council it would take more than eight years to repay front end costs associated with the switch to provincial policing.
While seven of the eight Councilors bought into McKay's logic, MacDougall issued a stern warning that policing, like other municipal services was growing beyond the municipality's ability to pay.
And she was blunt about it.
To a roar of groans from the packed City Council chamber, MacDougall who is an administrator for a non - profit noted that 42 per cent of City residents live at or below the poverty line. "I see them everyday and while we need a police department can we support one at $19 million?" she questioned.
"This Council and future Councils have a $155 million infrastructure backlog ... and we must take control of our costs".
MacDougall estimates at current annual increases the police budget will top $27 million by 2020.
She suggests there is a "reality and Council seems to be missing it". MacDougall claims the median income in Sarnia is $40,000.00 and questions how the municipality will finance critical services. "We must find more efficient, cost - saving ways of delivering municipal services and based on the police debate I'm not seeing it".
As for her political future she seemed unconcerned. "In my mind the way I voted was right ... if I lose, I lose".
The police chief was emotional saying the ongoing debate was difficult for his staff. "Public safety is a huge issue and it is tough to do your work when you don't know whether you are going to have a job".
Nelson says he understands the public's concern about costs but indicated provincial arbitrators and provincial requirements are a huge factor. "When arbitrators issue pension reinstatements as they did three years ago it triggers debate".
Nelson says the province "must step up " to assist in municipal funding of policing. And he suggests eventually the public may have to decide what services it is prepared to give up.
July, 2010
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