Winnipeg police HQ costs go up — yet again
'These must be rectified before we can move into the building,' chief Clunis says about new expenses
Winnipeg Police chief Devon Clunis says another $1.7 million in expenses are likely needed for the new police headquarters.
"Yes, it is an additional cost. These must be rectified before we can move into the building," Clunis told reporters Friday, following a meeting of the police board.
The cash is required for improved infrastructure in the parkade, ventilation in evidence rooms, new overhead doors and several other items.
Clunis told reporters the service had known of the shortcomings for some time and thought they had been included in regular reports to city hall.
"I am certain it would be in the report — it should be in the report," he said.
The city's 2015 capital budget does include a line for $1.7 million for the police headquarters.
The city's finance committee chair Marty Morantz says a separate budget was created for the new police headquarter costs and added to the city's overall capital spending for 2015. The cash comes from the existing police capital budget, Morantz told CBC News.
The headquarters project is currently $75 million over budget and has been the focus of a scathing audit and an investigation by the RCMP.
According to Coun. Brian Mayes, city council was aware there would be additional costs for the police headquarters.
Mayes said he recalled a briefing where councillors were told about deficiencies in the building that needed more funds.
The city's 2015 capital budget includes an expense line for $1.7 million for the project, but the extra costs were not reported to the city's finance committee and were not reflected in the overall costs for the project.
Councilor Morantz says reports to the finance committee only include projects over $10 million. Because the additional expenses were itemized in a new budget and it came under that ceiling, it wasn't reported to the committee.