$16M increase proposed for 2024 Waterloo Regional Police Service budget

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) have proposed adding $16 million to their 2024 budget for a total of about $230.3 million — up from $214 million — pointing to the recruitment of new officers as one reason for the increase.

At Wednesday's WRPS board meeting, Chief Mark Crowell explained that police officer staffing per capita in the region falls short of other major municipalities, as well as the national average. 

This year they brought on 19 new officers, and they're recommending the recruitment of 18 more next year. Their staffing budget for 2024 would go up by just over $13 million if approved, which includes benefits.   

They are also recommending bringing on 18 new officers in 2025, for a total of 55 over a three-year period. 

"That would allow us to hopefully catch up to a sustainable and smooth staffing landscape that will serve our community well," said Crowell. 

"It would also allow us to add resources as we continue to manage issues of retirement, resignation, and total attrition in a horizon that we think is responsible and adequate."   

WRPS is aiming to have final regional approval by Dec. 13. The police board will be meeting again on Nov. 15.   

"With the board's support and guidance, we are hopefully on a track to find a sustainable way to staff, and a responsible way to staff the needs of our community and commensurate with the growth that we're seeing as one of the fastest growing communities in Canada," said Crowell.     

According to Crowell's presentation on Wednesday, other "budget drivers" are things like inflation and "investments in frontline technology." 

WRPS holds public consultations 

The Waterloo Regional Police Service will be allowing the public to have their say on the proposed budget by way of consultations on Oct. 26 and Nov. 6.

Through a motion drafted by Coun. Colleen James that was passed by regional council last year, they "respectfully" requested WRPS chief to allow the public to have more input into the police budget. They also asked, as council, to have more input themselves.

They requested that WRPS "return to its past practice and present its draft annual budget to regional council, area municipalities … to allow time for both the regional council and the community to review and to provide comments prior to the [WRPS] board finalizing its annual budget."

In the past, council could only approve or reject the police budget. It had no control over individual budget items or the process. Crowell said that there won't be a big change in terms of the process this year in regards to council. 

WRPS board will be allowing council to review the budget on Nov. 22 prior to final council approval on Dec. 13.