Officials seek to trim draft 12.1% 2024 Sarnia police budget hike

Paul Wiersma, chair of the Sarnia police board, recalled a woman coming up to him during a recent public meeting on next year’s draft police budget.

She hoped everything in the draft budget was approved, because the community needs all the proposed initiatives.

“In a perfect world, I’d like to see it all, but I think, at the same time, I don’t think it’s sustainable to have double-digit increases,” Wiersma said during the Sept. 14 board meeting at Sarnia police headquarters.

The 2023 police budget, $30.4 million, marked an 11.5 per cent increase from 2022. It was the largest jump in the city’s history, raising the ire of the mayor and a veteran city councilor, although nearly nine per cent of that was mandatory based on prior approvals and previously negotiated increases and wasn’t even up for discussion.

The first draft version of the 2024 budget came in at about $34 million, a potential hike of 17.2 per cent. That figure’s since been cut down to 12.1 per cent. Still, that’s a figure they would really have to defend, board member Charlene Sebastian said.

“It’s an increase from last year and we know how contentious that was,” she said.

Longtime Sarnia Mayor and police board member Mike Bradley resigned from the board earlier this year amid what he said was secrecy and spending.

Looking at the items included in the draft 2024 budget, Kelly Ash, the board’s vice-chair, said she doesn’t know what they can’t have.

“But I do agree, 12.1 per cent’s going to be – it’s a big ask,” she said.

The board made no decisions at the meeting about what to include or take away, with staff continuing to work on the draft before the final budget is presented during the board’s Oct. 12 meeting. If approved then, it will move to city council for final approval.

In the meantime, another public meeting on the topic – one was held last week at Pat Stapleton Arena – was to take place Sept. 14 in the evening at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Chief Derek Davis said they use public and internal consultation and the new strategic business plan to come up with the budget, subject to the board’s direction.

“We are working to address the priorities that the public identified for us in that planning process,” he said.

Wiersma noted hiring a new canine officer, budgeted at $117,500, has been a popular request at the public forums this year after it was cut from last year’s budget.

“We’ve heard that multiple times,” he said. “I’d love to see that as part of the overall budget moving forward.”

They’ve also heard about hiring a corporate communications staffer, Wiersma said. That’s budgeted to cost $150,000.

But they’re also trying to find ways to save money while potentially making additions.

“I’m hoping to see that we’re going to be cutting back a little bit more,” he said.