City council wants the Greater Sudbury Police to take another look at their 2017 budget.
That's because the force is seeking a 4.1-per-cent increase on its approximately $53.5 million budget, compared to a 1.9-per-cent increase last time.
Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh said a full one per cent of next year's estimated 3.6-per-cent property tax hike is because of outside boards like police, the health unit and Conservation Sudbury. Police are seeking the biggest hike.
“What process did they go through to arrive at this increase?” McIntosh asked.
Acting budget director Ed Stankiewicz said it was the force's initial estimate. McIntosh replied that, with the rest of the city trying to limit increases, police should be asked to reduce the increase
“They're creating a situation where their portion of our budget is growing,” she said. “The Police Service Board should be working along the same lines as the other boards … I would like for us to tell them what we expect from them, not the other way around.”
“Asking for a 4-per-cent increase to a base budget without changing service delivery seems high,” agreed Mayor Brian Bigger.
CAO Ed Archer said police can be sent that message through the two city councillors who sit on the police board, and through informal communication, as well.
In addition to outside boards, the 3.6-per-cent projected tax hike also includes 1.3 per cent due to cuts in provincial funding transfers, one per cent for rising costs of delivering municipal services and 0.3 per cent to fund additional capital projects.
“We're not asking you to make budget decisions today,” Archer said. “We're asking for some guidelines.”
There will be another update on the process in September or October, he said, a preliminary budget will be presented in November and the budget will be passed in December.
In addition to property taxes, water and sewer rates are forecast to increase by 7.4 per cent.
Other preliminary budget details:
- 2017 city operating budget is estimated at $528 million;
- Overall, 35 per cent of the hike is increases in salaries and benefits, 23 per cent for increases from outside boards, 21 per cent for inflation, contractual obligations (landfill, recycling), nine per cent for utilities, seven per cent for contribution to capital project and five per cent for decreased revenue;
- The decreased revenue is linked to the fact that, since 2014, assessment growth has been around one per cent, and is forecast to be 0.5 per cent in 2017;
- The 1.5 per cent hike will raise $3.6 million for capital projects.
Archer said staff have been told to base budgets on actual costs from 2016, and to make a business plan case if they want any increases beyond that. Those requests will be vetted by senior managers, then go to council for approval.
