The City of Victoria plans to pay up on the police budget, which went up this year thanks to a recent decision on disputed 2023 budget items.
That year, the Victoria Esquimalt Police Board appealed Victoria and Esquimalt budget approvals that didn’t meet the budget requests. A Jan. 29 letter from Glen Lewis, assistant deputy minister and director of police services outlines their decision that some of the disputed amounts must be added to the VicPD budget.
The 14-page decision included reinstatement of the annual amount of $1,086,928 for one civilian position, three police officers, professional services and building maintenance costs. The police board subsequently approved a phasing-in plan of the decision, requesting $780,157 ($673,510 for Victoria) this year – representing pro-ration of one civilian position (to be hired in June pro-rated to $32,813) and three police officers (hire date of Sept. 1, pro-rated to $141,666). This funding request also includes the amount to be reinstated for professional services costs of $370,000 and for building maintenance costs of $235,678.
This year’s provisional police budget will carry a property tax increase of 3.34 per cent, increased to 3.72 per cent with the 2023 items incorporated.
While the city approved the draft to move forward with budget discussions on Thursday (Feb. 27) Couns. Susan Kim and Jeremy Caradonna opposed the motion. Coun. Dave Thompson abstained, noting he understood abstention is not an approved move in council, and is instead counted as in support.
Thomson specifically cited the decision by the province that shows it’s actually out of their control.
“The police budget really isn’t up to council. We have a legislation that I would call legacy legislation,” he said. “Any time we disagree with what the board has proposed, it goes to appeal and a bureaucrat makes a final decision.”
With a potential police budget approval in place, council began consideration of a motion by Mayor Marianne Alto to keep the city’s portion of the tax increase to four per cent.
That conversation continues Monday (March 3) at 9 a.m. Follow the meeting and find agenda online.
