Request for money frustrates (SALMON ARM RCMP)

By Lachlan LabereOBSERVER STAFFJul 12 2006 http://www.saobserver.net/

When it comes to having a say on Salmon Arm's policing budget, city council is behind bars with little chance of bail. A flurry of frustration erupted during council's July 10 meeting in response to what is an annual request from RCMP headquarters that a letter in principle from the municipality be sent to the Federal Treasury Board, approving an incremental increase per RCMP member by $5,453.10. This increase would put the amount allotted per member in the RCMP's 2007/2008 budget at $92,702.20. (A first class constable receives $70,000 per year plus overtime. ) The cost of this increase would fall upon the city and its taxpayers. "The forecasted costs for 2007 equate to a 0.88 per cent increase in taxes (versus the original estimate of 0.63 per cent)," said the city's manager of financial services Chris Cadotte, and director of corporate services Monica Dalziel in a July 5 memo to the mayor and council. "The five year plan as prepared by RCMP Headquarters E Division reflects approximately a $100,000 increase in funding annually excluding new member increases." On one hand, councillors expressed support for the services the RCMP provide the city. On the other, there was significant frustration among council over not having any say over a service that takes up approximately 20 to 25 per cent of the city's annual budget. "I think this is the fourth year in a row that I'll comment- I just don't know how we can keep approving these without any control over the budget," said Coun. Kevin Flynn. "And this doesn't take into account new members, it's just the cost per existing members and we're already understaffed with our policing. And to know that every time we add one more staff it's going to cost us $92,000, and- it's been six or seven per cent or more just about every year; I just can't emphasize enough the frustration of this process that I experience every time we get this memo to approve in principle. "We're approving a budget that we have absolutely no control over but we pay 90 per cent of the costs." Asked what would happen if the city did not provide its approval, Dalziel suggested last year's local RCMP budget would be repeated, which could mean a decrease in services. "It seems we don't have a choice whether to pass it or not," said Coun. Alan Harrison. "It's difficult to pass in isolation the RCMP budget and look at that within the context of everything else involved." Mayor Marty Bootsma suggested a letter of objection be sent along with the requested letter. Dalziel explained how the objection alone could be met. "I think they'd fly down here and have a little chat," said Dalziel. "That's what they did last time. Salmon Arm is known for - I won't say harassing them on their budget... They definitely know Salmon Arm." Council chose to go with the mayor's suggestion, sending the city's letter of approval with a letter of objection. "Our taxpayers should be frustrated by this," said Flynn. "It's no reflection on the service we feel we're getting, it's just a reflection on the frustration of not being able to control it and in fact it's impacting other parts of our budget."