Thursday nights police commission meeting. (CHAT News photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Police budget

Police bracing for budget scrutiny

Sep 17, 2020 | 10:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With Mayor Ted Clugston hinting at major budget amendments earlier this month, it’s likely one of the biggest line items will get some scrutiny – the nearly $25 million police budget.

It’s something MHPS Chief Andy McGrogan says the service is preparing for.

“I will tell you we have been building some contingencies because it’s quite obvious that we have some economic issues within the city and we are a part of the city and we plan on doing our part,” said McGrogan following Thursday’s police commission meeting. “Obviously, not affecting our operational delivery as much as we can.”

But, says McGrogan, there hasn’t been a request from City Hall as of yet.

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Police commission chair Sandy Redden echoed that there hasn’t been an official request from council but they will follow through if there is.

“Unfortunately, it means that there will be things lost in that and sometimes, they are the good things that are happening in the community, the extra supports,” said Redden. “I don’t have any idea how it will look and what they’ll request of us but I think we’ll be obligated if that’s requested of us.”

As far as the ire of Justice Minister Kaycee Madu drawn by the mayors of Edmonton and Calgary over those cities respective police budget discussions, Coun. Robert Dumanowski says he believes that has more to do with the defund police movement and reallocation of funding to support services.

“The caution I heard from the minister is that if municipalities were to undertake that kind of change, that there could be a commensurate cut as far as grant funding is concerned from the province to the municipalities,” said Dumanowski, who also sits on the police commission. “That has not been a conversation, to my knowledge, here yet.”

As far as this year’s police budget, MHPS is currently under spending due to reduced training and other cost saving associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent boost in dollars from the province for it’s integrated crime unit.