Port Hope Police Bring Cost Savings Back to Council

Pete Fisher
3 hours ago
• Categories: City Hall, Local

The Port Hope Police Board presented its draft 2026 budget to council last month and was asked to find more savings following a request for a 13.2% increase, bringing its ask to more than $8 million.

Board chair George Kallonakis had previously told council the number would come in at more than $8.4 million, though offset by government grants, user fees and other savings the total levy ask was $8,112,203.

Kallonakis returned to Port Hope council’s committee-of-the-whole meeting Tuesday night and outlined the changes from his previous presentation that brings the request down to $7,789,443.

There is a $29,000 savings in the price for OPP to police the rural area of Port Hope. The board had estimated a 15% increase based on previous years, but reduced it to reflect an 11% cap on OPP increases by the province.

Kallonakis noted a $163,000 decrease from the tax levy for the debenture principal and interest payment for the service’s building that will now be covered by their screening business reserves.

“In the past, always that was an expense that was coming out from the levy so I just want to be cautious to make sure that everybody’s aware that now that’s going to be coming out of the screening, or at least for this coming year, so if anything was to happen to the screening, that would have to somehow be passed back on,” Kallonakis said.

Another large decrease in the amount of $167,000 is coming from Secondment revenue. Kallonakis said since the previous presentation, Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson spoke with OPP staff and there was an opening to transfer an accommodated officer to work with the OPP to offset some of the salary requirements.

Kallonakis said there is also $53,000 in savings for leave adjustments for a maternity leave next year.

There is, however, a $90,000 increase coming for dispatch services in Owen Sound.

Last month, there was also discussion about the possibility of Port Hope Police taking over rural policing in the municipality from the OPP and Kallonakis said after looking into it further there could be an additional $100,000 in savings.

“Not saying that they don’t do a great job, however there’s some potential there for some extra savings,” he added.

Mayor Olena Hankivsky asked Chief Farquharson, who was in attendance at the first meeting back in council chambers, to compare the percentage increase requests and if he anticipates any further cost savings.

Farquharson said the changes bring the ask from 13.2% down to 8.7%.

“We do have another secondment opportunity, but too early to say because I just had my first meeting with OPP in regards to another possible secondment,” he said. “So would that affect things next year? It would absolutely, if that works out. It would be another hundred and fifty to hundred and sixty thousand dollars, but it’s not confirmed yet and I don’t want to get ahead of myself because we still have to talk to the officer and look to see what kind of fit that is.”

The chief said the service also just received a grant for its m-HEART (Mental Health Engagement and Response Team) program.

Farquharson said the budget changes may impact workload, but there’s no concern for community or officer safety. He also noted the Port Hope service has great working relationships with Cobourg, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Belleville and OPP.

Councillor Les Andrews, who is a police board member, said a delegation would be coming forward outlining the benefits “of the Port Hope Police policing in lieu of OPP in Ward 2, including the financial benefits and cost.”

 

Port Hope Police Draft Budget Presented to Council; Rural Policing Discussed – Today’s Northumberland – Your Source For What’s Happening Locally and Beyond