By Cecilia Nasmith/Northumberland 89.7 FM/Today’s Northumberland
The Cobourg Police Service is requesting a 5.5% increase in its 2025 budget which means, thanks to transfers from reserves and the Business Services Division, that only $7.84-million will be required from levy funding.
“We are getting significant feedback about the increase in crime and the feeling of being unsafe in their neighbourhoods,” Chief Paul VandeGraaf said to council at this week’s budget meeting – adding that it echoes the situation across the country.
More specifically, in Ontario, more funding is require to comply with the province’s Community Policing and Safety Act, with more staffing and training required that cannot be covered under a static budget.
“The demands of the province under the new act cannot be met under the status quo – it’s inadequate funding to meet these demands,” the chief stated.
And on top of that, there’s the cost of meeting the service the community requires.
There has been a 22% increase in calls for service – a figure that rose from 10,782 in 2021 to 11,287 in 2022 and 13,747 in 2023.
“As of Aug. 31, we have had 11,582, so that trend continues upward,” VandeGraaf noted.
The $238,000 estimated value of drugs seized is up from $131,000 in 2022 and $108,295 in 2021.
Assaults were up to 129, from 108 in 2022.
Theft under $5,000 is up 16%, with 478 incidents in 2023 compared to 400 in 2022.
There were 375 motor-vehicle collisions in 2023 (up form 255 in 2022), 73% of which required police attendance at the scene.
The total operating budget is $12.064-million, but the capital budget is only $320,000 – completely covered by their Corporate Services Division at no cost to the taxpayer. This means the service can acquire road-safety equipment, as well as some replacement vehicles and IT purchases.
In fact, Chief VanderGraaf said, Corporate Services revenue has covered $9.3-million in capital costs since 2004.
Councillor Brian Darling pointed out that the increase for the town’s 2025 operating budget had sat at 3.94%. Director of Finance Adam Giddings estimated that approving the Cobourg Police Service’s 5.5% increase would raise that figure to about 5.26% overall. Still, council voted to refer accept the request and refer it to their Nov. 26 budget meeting.
