Policing costs for small municipalities going up 39%, but Alberta gov’t will cover for one year

“The expiring regulation would have municipalities seeing a 39 per cent increase in their costs – with no improvement in policing services delivered,” says Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

“We know this is not acceptable for many municipalities. This cost freeze will give rural municipalities the stability and predictability they need, and it will allow for meaningful engagement between the province and municipalities on equitable support.”

Ric McIver, Municipal Affairs Minister, says government understands the increase will be a challenge for municipalities.

“With the costs frozen for a year, we look forward to a comprehensive review of the police funding model with our municipal partners,” he says. “During our review, we will carefully consider all factors to ensure we provide an updated funding model that is sustainable.”

A government release Wednesday notes that in 2020, ministers began working with Alberta Municipalities (AB Munis — formerly AUMA) and Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) to create a shared funding model.

The eventual Police Funding Regulation saw the portion municipalities were expected to pay eased in until it hit 30 per cent for the 2023-24 fiscal year. That regulation was supposed to expire in March 2025, but will now run through March 2026.

Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau, whose town receives policing from the Innisfail RCMP detachment, says one way or another, Albertans are paying these costs.

It’s unfortunate, he says, that more will have to come directly from municipalities because it likely means a steeper property tax increase.

“This doesn’t mean we get additional RCMP resources. If there are new officers going somewhere, I don’t believe they’re coming to central Alberta,” Yargeau told rdnewsNOW, talking about getting bang for their buck. “This isn’t to speak negatively of our local detachment, because the officers do a good job and we have a great working relationship with them; it’s just that there aren’t enough resources for them.”

In Penhold, a one per cent property tax hike is equivalent to about $50,000, and the town already pays roughly $250,000 for its 30 per cent share of policing. A 39 per cent increase on $250,000 equals nearly $100,000.

Up the QEII in Rimbey, Mayor Rick Pankiw says a four per cent property tax increase will be needed to cover the incoming 39 per cent escalation.

“I’d like to know where our provincial government comes up with some of their ideas. They’ve dropped our Local Government Fiscal Framework (formerly MSI) funding by 30 per cent, and the only way we can come up with this extra money is by raising taxes; but how far can you raise taxes?” he wonders.

“There was a time when we didn’t pay for any police funding and now it’s gone up every single year. It’s frozen for one year, but then it goes up 39 per cent, and I think it’s ludicrous. I’d love for the minister to tell me where I’m supposed to get that money.”

Pankiw, who’s been mayor for 10 years, says their RCMP numbers haven’t gone up since the current funding model was implemented.

According to Alberta RCMP Public Information Officer, Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, Rimbey has added one police officer and one civilian support position since the original funding model came in, and Penhold has added one officer.

Pankiw also wonders why the province, which has strongly indicated it’d like to ship out the RCMP, is talking about the RCMP CBA when it too is set to expire next year.

Pankiw clarifies that Rimbey’s stance on moving away from the RCMP is that it would be wrong and unwanted.

Meantime, outgoing RMA President Paul McLauchlin, who is also Ponoka County reeve, says the police funding model has been a tremendous download onto municipalities, and worse yet, it hasn’t led to a change in service.

McLauchlin says the discussion should be around contract management on the province’s part, as opposed to the work of the RCMP.

“As far as the funding model, key performance indicators aren’t defined, and I’ve called it in the past the worst policy development I’ve ever seen, because we’re paying for something that’s got no feedback loop to see whether it’s successful or not,” he says.

“The freeze is a positive thing because the increase will cause impairment to municipalities, but the fundamentals of this discussion should be that the system is flawed.”

McLauchlin, speaking to us from his organization’s annual convention in Edmonton, is also concerned that this is being made out to be a union issue.

“There are a lot of big discussions related to policing, and we seem to be paying for something we have no input or control over,” he says.

In his own jurisdiction — Ponoka County — RCMP regularly report to council, like they do in Red Deer. He says that model has proven successful; for example, they hired a private investigator, directly leading to the uncovering of a significant crime ring.

McLauchlin surmises too that when the province alludes to hundreds of new positions, many have simultaneously been lost due to retirement and relocation.

About RMA being involved in forming the regulation five years ago, McLauchlin says, “They say they worked with us, but they literally told us what they were going to do and then did it. We weren’t a partner in deciding how this worked.”

Tyler Gandam, president with AB Munis, agrees with McLauchlin on the degree to which they worked together with the province, adding that municipalities need to see value for their money.

“The mixed messaging there was when the police funding model came out, and there was the understanding that if municipalities were paying, they’d have more boots on the ground,” says Gandam. “That’s probably why there’s some apprehension for those communities now, because they’ve not had a good experience.”

He says if there’s been roughly 500 new positions created, councils and residents want to know how they’ve impacted communities.

“We continue to offer to be a partner for the province, and that includes helping with what these agreements can look like,” adds Gandam.

Cpl. Savinkoff clarifies that recently re-negotiated collective agreements saw police officers receive an increase in pay to keep pace with inflation. This compensates officers but also helps in retention and attraction, he says.

Says Savinkoff: “Alberta RCMP has increased capacity to a number of units that provide specialized support to detachments in areas such as crime reduction, investigations, forensic units, police-dog teams, Emergency Response Teams (ERT), and Relief Teams (teams of officers who will be able to deploy to detachments experiencing short-term resource pressures).”

rdnewsNOW also reached out to the town of Bentley, and will add their comments here if provided.

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Policing costs for small municipalities going up 39%, but Alberta gov’t will cover for one year

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