The Barrie Police Department, which accounts for around one-quarter of the city's budget, is looking for almost $55.8 million in city funding for 2020.
That's a hike of around 4.7 per cent, Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood noted in her presentation to council last night at city hall, as councillors heard from various service partners tabling their funding requests.
City police are looking at an operating budget of around $56.9 million. Almost $6 million of that will be covered through grants, secondments and other revenue streams.
However, police officials have also identified almost $5.4 million in "challenges" heading into 2020 due to a reduction in provincial grants, "legislative impacts," salary increases and the move into the new headquarters.
Around $920,000 of that provincial grant funding had been used for such things are court security, prisoner transportation and RIDE programs.
"As part of our core business, the Barrie Police Service relies on various grant programs," said Greenwood, noting there have been funding cuts of around 21 per cent heading into next year. "This shortfall increases the budget request by 1.7 per cent."
The chief said the police department continues to apply for various grants, however.
"There are several factors and unique circumstances which have a direct financial impact," she added, including legislative increases of almost 70 per cent through the Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act to to the tune almost $2.3 million, for example.
Barrie police salaries, benefits and overtime total more than $51.5 million, or around 96 per cent, of the department's total budget request. In comparison, salaries in 2010 represented 88 per cent of the total budget, the chief said.
The hike in salary and benefits is around $880,000 for next year.
In 2019, the Barrie Police Service employed 241 sworn officers and 115 civilians. Next year, that's expected to jump to 243 officers and 118 civilians, as outlined in the deparment's plan for 2020.
Next year's increase in the sworn officer complement is the first since 2012, Greenwood said.
The chief also noted the officer-per-capita ratio, or "cop-to-pop," in Barrie sits at around 159 officers per 100,000 people. The provincial ratio is 185, while the national ratio is 188.
The department is looking at "slow, sustainable growth," Greenwood said, as it works toward a projected local population of around 210,000 residents by 2031.
Meanwhile, the police department's 2020 capital budget is $1.34 million and includes computer equipment, a radio system upgrade and vehicles.
Barrie police is also asking for $500,000 to upgrade its building at 79 Bell Farm Rd., for firearms training.
The chief also said she foresees $377,000 in savings with the move into the new Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus, which is currently under construction on Fairview Road in the city's south end and will help the department consolidate its operations. One-time moving costs to the new Fairview Road facility, however, will be more than $500,000.
The department currently works out of several buildings, including headquarters on Sperling Drive, two facilities on Bell Farm Road, and a downtown office at the transit terminal on Maple Avenue.
"We will be occupying all five of our locations for a period of time," said Greenwood, adding that will mean some duplication in services, such as telephone, until the move is complete.
The 2019 budget for buildings was around $1.4 million, but that will drop to just over $1 million next year when the new building is fully operational.
Councillors will now begin deliberations, with the city budget expected to be approved next month.
