Chatham-Kent councillors vote in support of police budget

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Chatham-Kent councillors voted in favour of the recommended police budget – and its 3.3 per cent hike – during Thursday’s deliberations.

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Chatham-Kent councillors vote in support of police budget Back to video

The $35.3-million budget includes a net increase of nearly $1.13 million. Chief Gary Conn noted there were no service reductions, nor any additional hires, in the budget.

“Although it is bare bones, it is still attainable while ensuring adequate and effective policing,” he said.

Overall, the new police budget has a 0.64 per cent tax impact.

Conn said there are number of enhancements, including an additional officer moved to the community mobilization unit, a polygraph device and training, expanded bike patrols, body cameras, the downtown Chatham CCTV pilot project, an armoured rescue vehicle and automated licence plate readers.

Chatham-Kent currently has 169 sworn officers, along with 65 civilian employees. There were 73,135 calls for service last year.

Also on Thursday, South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci entered a successful motion asking the six per cent inflation figure for capital and lifecycle costs be trimmed to four per cent for a savings of approximately $1.36 million.

“To be honest, I’m finding it a very challenging aspect to find cuts,” he said. “In speaking with staff, this is a number that might not be perfect, but they are at least palatable with.

“This is a significant cost savings (while) not kicking the can too far down the road.”

Ceccacci added he doesn’t “look at it as a cut,” since the inflation rate can fluctuate. He called it preferable to cutting from infrastructure or municipal services during deliberations.

With this reduction, which passed unanimously, the proposed 6.35 per cent tax hike has dropped to 5.58 per cent.

Wednesday’s budget meeting was cancelled due to the weather, making Thursday the first night of deliberations.

The budget process resumes this Tuesday at 6 p.m. in council chambers, with Wednesday and Thursday set aside if needed. The meetings will also be live-streamed.

Deputations will be heard and deliberations on the operating budget will begin. After the break during Tuesday’s meeting, at approximately 8:30 p.m., council will go into a closed session.

Written deputations as long as five minutes in length are welcome each evening but must be emailed before 3 p.m. the day of the meeting to ckfps@chatham-kent.ca.

Questions and comments can also be made by mail: Budget & Performance Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, 315 King St. W., P.O. Box 640, Chatham, Ont., N7M 5K8; by phone at 519-360-1998; or online at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/budget2023?tool=qanda#tool_tab

Municipal budget details can be found at www.chatham-kent.ca/localgovernment/budget/Pages/Our-Municipal-Budgets.aspx