(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
The Port Hope Police Service is seeking more than $8 million in the 2026 budget, which is a 13.2% increase from this year, council heard at its committee-of-the-whole meeting Tuesday night.
Board chair George Kallonakis said the request is $8,112,203, which would be higher at more than $8.4 million, but is offset by government grants, user fees and other savings.
In addition to the chief, inspector and staff sergeant, Port Hope Police has 29 full-time and two part-time uniform officers along with six full-time and one part-time civilian positions. The service’s screening business has three full-time and eight casual civilians.
Kallonakis noted that around 7,340 calls for service are estimated by the end of this year, up from 6,391 in 2024 and 5,857 in 2023.
The largest increased financial requirements for 2026, Kallonakis said, are $833,000 in salaries and benefits, $107,000 extra OPP fees, and $43,000 in Community Safety and Policing Act required training
The OPP monitor the rural area of Port Hope and Kallonakis said the increased cost brings the total to more than $800,000 for that contracted service.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky said she learned of an announcement earlier Tuesday that the Ministry of the Solicitor General capped OPP budget increases at 11%.
Kallonakis said the board didn’t know what the OPP increase would be so they went off last year’s which was 15%. That hadn’t been adjusted as it was announced the same day as the budget presentation to council, but noted extra increases for the communications centre will balance the budget request.
Hankivsky asked about the ability to pivot when officers return from maternity or WSIB in terms of staff composition. “Can we expand and retract in ways that could realize some cost savings and secondarily is the current composition, is there any ability to reduce that current composition now without compromising the ability to have the platoons in place that are required by legislation?” she asked.
Kallonakis said the Port Hope service is doing well with only about 10% of officers being off, which is on the lower-side of provincial numbers.
“Usually it’s closer to 20 per cent of officers are off on WSIB,” he said.
The mayor asked if the municipality could meet safety requirements with a smaller staff
“I don’t believe so,” Kallonakis said, pausing before adding “the reason why I say that is the latest hires have been to meet the requirements of having three officers at nighttime. Previous years we did have only two so that is a requirement passed on that we need to have three members per platoon at night. I think every officer is being utilized to their full potential so…if we were to reduce our team to less officers, it would be costing us more in overtime and burn out because the other officers would be working more to make up those hours and cover those shifts.”
Hankivsky said she was sure members of the public would like to know if Port Hope Police is on par with the OPP, why is a 13% increase being requested when OPP is being capped at 11.
Kallonakis said the level of policing is not the same within the municipality.
“OPP does a drive-through kind of policing service. We are fully embodied into the community and having the outreach with our schools and having the outreach with our community and community partners,” Kallonakis said. “The stats show Port Hope is the second safest community in the province and that is a testament of the policing.”
Councillor Les Andrews put forward a motion to direct the police chief and board to present more information to council by a still to be determined date regarding the possibility of the Port Hope service taking over rural policing in the municipality.
Councillor Adam Pearson said he had a similar motion that could join Andrews’ with an amendment, seeking more cost savings from the police service in the 2026 budget.
Councillor Todd Attridge suggested a service delivery review be done and Mayor Hankivsky sought clarification on council’s ability to direct “this level of intervention” with the police service.
CAO Mike Melinyshyn said he was not sure council could direct police services what to do but can “strongly suggest” a service delivery review might be appropriate and provide funding through the operating budget.
Deputy Mayor Vicki Mink said she was “shocked by this” and feeling vulnerable that council was bringing such a significant request forward at this time and with a short timeline.
Andrews said he saw no issue with a delegation from the chief and board bringing forward more information.
Attridge wondered if a notice of motion presented at a future meeting would be more appropriate so there’s time to draft the wording of the motion and give more consideration.
In the end, the two motions were separated.
Pearson’s motion that council directs the Port Hope Police Service Board in consultation with the CAO and the municipal finance staff to identify and implement additional savings to reduce the 2026 budget and report back to council with the proposed adjustments no later than Nov. 4 committee-of-the-whole meeting was carried.
Andrews put forward a motion to direct the chief and board to present more information to council regarding timelines, resource, capital implications and financial considerations for taking over rural policing in Port Hope by the Nov. 4 meeting.
Councillor Darrell Toms asked if it would be the same rural service as OPP currently provides.
Andrews said it would be 24/7 and Kallonakis added such a change would mean a full dedicated officer and cruiser for the rural area while OPP is more available on an on-demand basis.
The motion was defeated in a tie with Mink, Attridge and Toms against and Hankivsky, Andrews and Pearson in favour. Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani was absent from the meeting.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
