Budget custs would hamper policing says inspector (Penticton)

By John Moorhouse Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Penticton Herald

A proposed cutback in the Penticton RCMP detachment came under fire from Insp. Dan Fudge at a special City Hall budget meeting Monday night. More than 100 people crowded into council chambers to provide input on budget proposals released last week. Their loudest applause followed a presentation by Fudge who ripped into council over a plan to reduce the number of RCMP officers to 42 from the current 45 members through attrition. The yet-to-be-approved move would lop $300,000 off the budget. However, Fudge said the reduction would have a negative impact on public safety. He pointed to suggestions from some council members that the city should learn to do more with less. "Let me be very clear, there is no "doing more with less.’’ What in fact you have, is "less with less,’’" Fudge stated. "Both council and the public need to be aware that there will be a reduction in services from the police, if this proposal makes final approval." Also at risk, he said, is the detachment’’s integrated staffing with rural RCMP members. Four rural members are included in the city detachment, with two others in the drug and general investigation units. Fudge feared a reduction in the city detachment could see rural members no longer agreeing to participate if there is a lack of coverage in rural areas. "What we really could be facing is a reduction of nine members policing the city, not just three," he said. Fudge also lamented council’’s lack of consultation over the proposal, noting he found out about the possible policing reduction through the media.

Another budget proposal calls a $390,000 reduction in overall city labour costs, which will be further discussed by council in a closed-door session. Fudge said he was "appalled" by some of council’’s recent comments regarding possible staff reductions. "If your intent was to scare city employees, well guess what, it worked," he said. ÒI have a number of city staff at my office very concerned about their future employment with the city because of the nature of these discussions." Fudge called on council to look at other possibilities, including a tax increase, to pay for city services. The draft budget calls for a tax hike of 2.37 per cent to cover increases in debt servicing costs for such projects as the South Okanagan Events Centre, cemetery columbarium, industrial area upgrade, indoor soccer facility and Elm Avenue parkland acquisition.

Mayor Dan Ashton emphasized Monday night that no council budget decisions have yet been made and discussions last week centred around a report from city staff. "Council has not debated the budget whatsoever," he said. "These have been ideas that have been posted forward." Ashton said the budget forums, including a second one on Tuesday evening, were simply to allow the public to provide input before decisions are made. Groups can still address council individually as well. Meanwhile, members of the Penticton fire department called on council to consider hiring four more members to meet minimum staffing requirements for fire calls. Currently each of the two fire halls have a minimum of two firefighters available for a call, while current standards require at least three members.

Other groups called on council to hold off on grant cutbacks. One budget proposal calls for the elimination of most discretionary grants-in-aid, which would result in a saving of $374,000. Lori Dunn of the Rotary Okanagan-Thompson International Children’’s Festival said the festival depends on its $25,000 city grant to get matching funds from the federal and provincial governments. "Any cut will kill the festival and our children and families will lose out," she said. Peach Festival Society president Mark Grimm cautioned against cuts to its $40,000 grant. The 62nd annual Peach Festival this summer will include another performance by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aeronautic team. "If there is anything we cannot afford to hit the cutting room floor, it is Peach Festival," Grimm said. Council will likely begin its budget deliberations next week, after it holds its annual "goals and objectives" session. A final budget decision is expected by late January or early February.