The Town of Osoyoos faces serious budget challenges at a result of a major jump in policing costs. The cost increase is the result of a different funding formula that kicks in now that the town’s population has surpassed 5,000. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Barry Romanko, the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Osoyoos, issued a statement last week relating to the significant impact increased policing costs are going to have on local taxpayers and members of Town of Osoyoos council.
When the latest Statistics Canada census was released several weeks ago, it was made official that the population for the Town of Osoyoos had exceeded 5,000 for the first time.
Under provincial laws, communities that surpass 5,000 in population are on the financial hook for 70 per cent of policing costs if they use the RCMP, instead of the 30 per cent tab for communities under 5,000.
In 2016, local taxpayers paid just under $390,000 in policing costs, but that number is expected to increase by between $500,000 and $600,000 in 2017 as a result of the provincial funding formula.
At last Monday’s regular meeting of town council, several councillors expressed their dismay at the impact of increased policing costs.
Veteran Coun. C.J. Rhodes said he could not justify spending any significant dollars until the full impact of policing costs is detailed and addressed as part of the 2017 budget process.
On Monday, council voted to delay spending $29,000 from the 2017 capital budget for a new dump truck requested by Jim Dinwoodie, the Town’s director of operational services.
The full cost of the dump truck is just over $101,000, but Dinwoodie recommended it be paid for over five years.
Council also voted to delay spending $320,000 on a water infrastructure improvement to service four lots on Lakeshore Drive, including a new distillery business.
One part of that contract would have seen a water line installed near Osoyoos Secondary School, which would allow the school to use reclaimed water from the Town’s lagoon ponds to water its playing fields.
Rhodes said while the projects recommended as top priority by staff are all legitimate and needed in the community, he had difficulty approving any significant expenditures until the provincial government provided more details about the impact of policing costs in Osoyoos.
Council voted to delay a final decision on both of these projects for 60 days so they could deal with the many ramifications involved with the pending increase in policing costs.
Early Wednesday afternoon, Romanko issued a press release saying the Province has finally forwarded an information package about the pending increase in policing costs to council and senior administration.
“Due to the number of inquiries I thought it best to respond in the following manner,” said Romanko. “I have recently received a draft package of information from the provincial government that outlines a template of proposed (police) costing.
“Council has been informed of the arrival of this package, but has not been briefed on the detailed content of the package.
“A meeting will be held today (Wednesday) between provincial representative and the administration to review the content in order to set up a total council briefing with provincial government representatives sometime next week.
“From my perspective, there are still many questions to be answered and areas to be considered for negotiation prior to total impacts on the community being determined.
“Given the provincial government’s schedule to implement an April 1 contract, there will be questions today about the entire scheduling timeframe.
“No additional information on content of the package will be provided until Council has been briefed and meets with the provincial representatives next week.”
Considering the April 1 deadline and the fact the Town has to have its 2017 budget officially approved in May, it’s expected that this policing costs issue is going to take up the vast majority of council’s time and efforts in the coming weeks.
It’s not known if the Province will have provided senior administration and council with enough information to have a detailed staff report ready for next Monday’s regular meeting of town council.
At the March 4 meeting of council, Rhodes expressed his frustration at having to deal with an additional burden on local taxpayers in the range of between $500,000 and $600,000 with the budget deadline rapidly approaching.
“The profoundness of what we’re faced with policing-wise right now does require a new attitude and a new way of looking at all the expenditures in our Town,” he said.
Council does have the option of forming its own police department, contracting with an existing police service or continuing its current contract with the RCMP.
The Town has had a police services contract with the RCMP dating back several decades.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
