Belgium/Hike in OPP costs: Ontario to help municipalities

Queen's Park will provide financial assistance to rural municipalities concerned about increasing property taxes due to rising Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) costs.

The Ontario government announced Friday morning that it will contribute $77 million to bring costs in line with those of 2023.

The financial assistance we are proposing will help municipal leaders balance their budgets and invest in their communities, while maintaining the policing services provided by the OPP to protect families and businesses," said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner in a press release.

In Russell Township, Mayor Mike Tarnowski estimated a 23% increase in OPP costs for his municipality.

We've never had anything like this, or close to it. Certainly not in my time," he explained earlier this week in an interview with CBC.

Tarnowski has been on council since 2018. A lot of municipalities - I'd say all the municipalities I've spoken to - are feeling this shock," he said.

His municipality was proposing to increase property taxes by nearly 9% to absorb the rising cost of the OPP.

In Hawkesbury, elected officials are considering a 9.5% tax increase for similar reasons.

Nearly 330 municipalities in Ontario do not have their own police services and rely on the OPP.

Increase due to new collective agreement

Last July, the OPP Association and the Ford government ratified a new collective agreement that provides for across-the-board wage increases for 2023, 2024 and the next two years. As a result of this pact, the municipalities that use this service will end up with a higher bill.

Ontario also confirms that it intends to review options for the OPP billing model to ensure that it continues to meet needs.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) was delighted with the funding announced. "This proposal demonstrates that the government has listened to the concerns raised," said AMO President Robin Jones in a press release.

Without the province's proposed measure, the increased cost of OPP services would have had a serious impact on small, rural and northern communities that receive OPP policing services. Ontario's municipal finances are under pressure, and municipalities are struggling to balance their budgets. This proposal recognizes this challenge and will help improve the quality of life for Ontarians.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/