Emergency services have been the leading contributor to municipal tax increases in recent years, with Greater Sudbury Police Service far exceeding both fire and paramedics.
As a percentage of total cost changes between 2019 and 2023 (forecast), GSPS made up 26 per cent ($12.9 million) of the increase, whereas fire contributed 11 per cent ($5.5 million) and paramedics contributed four per cent ($2 million).
Across all lines of service funded by the municipality, costs increased by $49.2 million during these five years. The $12.9 million increase by GSPS was the single greatest jump, followed by transit at just shy of $6 million.
Although GSPS pulls approximately 11 per cent of the city’s gross budget, their increases have accounted for 21.9 per cent of the total municipal tax levy jump between 2019-23.
These and various other statistics were provided in a report to city council during this week’s meeting, which highlighted where recent years’ cost increases have come from.
Sudbury.com reached out to GSPS representative Kaitlyn Dunn for additional insight regarding the service’s disproportionate share of recent years’ tax increases, but an interview request was not granted.
Instead, a written statement was provided.
Dunn noted that salaries and benefits account for 87-88 per cent of their total budget, while 10-11 per cent is for operating costs such as rent, facilities maintenance and insurance, vehicles, equipment, uniforms and professional development.
“Police services are unique in that our business rapidly changes over time,” she wrote.
“Changes in legislation, increases in crime trends, new demands in technology, new case law, new mandatory and/or legislated requirements for training and equipment, along with collectively bargained salaries and benefits, are all cost drivers that may be different than other emergency services.”
Past years’ budgets show the disproportionate jump in GSPS budgets is a newer development.
Between 2013-23, the GSPS net budget increased by 73 per cent, which is close to the city’s operating budget increase during this same timeframe of 70 per cent.
GSPS tabled a proposed 10.66 per cent 2024 budget increase with their board earlier this week, but with limited information available publicly and police declining an interview request, it’s unclear what led to an increase far exceeding city council’s 4.7 per cent cap mandate.
Sudbury.com will attend and report on future police board budget meetings, including those scheduled to take place on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.
The Oct. 30 meeting will take place in room C-12 at Tom Davies Square beginning at 5 p.m., and the Nov. 1 meeting will take place in the same location beginning at 4 p.m.
In a media release issued Oct. 27, GSPS invited the public to attend these meetings either in-person or by Zoom:
- https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81181879583?pwd=Y1hVenZtNXZ0d2lkOXFrdEJIOENGZz09
- Meeting ID: 811 8187 9583
- Passcode: 444663
During 2023 budget deliberations, GSPS tabled an initial proposed budget which included a 6.7-per-cent increase, despite that year’s city council direction to limit it to 3.7 per cent.
The police board ended up paring it down to 5.66 per cent, which city council members greenlit.
That year’s budget included hiring an additional 10 sworn members, with this year’s budget slated to add another 10 members to the force.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
