The new 30 year RCMP contract signed by the province back in March will
mean close to $7 in added taxation to the average taxpayer by 2016. That doesn't include any wage increases that may be added between now and then. The City of Kelowna Monday voted unanimously to ratify the
new agreement which gives municipalities in the province more cost
certainty, better operational and financial accountability and a change
in the relationship to more of a partnership. The agreement means an additional $105,000 in the 2012 budget, mainly
for increased Canada Pension Plan contributions, about $400,000 in
2013/2014 as the city's share of a new E Division headquarters building
and nearly $100,000 for recruitment costs and a Police Dog Training
Centre in 2015/2016. The additional $105,000 for 2012 equates to about a .11 per cent tax increase or about $1.70 for the average household.
Councillor Robert Hobson says he would have liked to have seen a contract where the portion of RCMP costs were shared equally. "Everybody doesn't pay the same policing costs in British Columbia and it doesn't make any sense to me that they don't," says Hobson. "We as larger municipalities really pay a disproportionate share of policing in my view, but I know rural people will vigorously dispute that because they feel they don't get the same level of service and small municipalities will say it's hard for them to contribute." Hobson says crime doesn't adhere to municipal or rural boundaries and, a blended system where everybody paid the same would be more equitable. Despite that, Hobson says as far as what Kelowna gets out of the contract in terms of the ability to review and question the RCMP, it's about as good as could be achieved. "I think we have some new tools here, hopefully, that will allow us to identify local priorities and to hold the RCMP accountable. The issue we were finding at UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) were the surprises in the system -- the bills that were sent without any real explanation," says Hobson. "I hope we have more of that accountability with the checks and reviews that are here." The new agreement will allow for a greater role in determining police priorities and longer term planning for service requirements. The agreement kicked in April 1, however, municipalities have until April 30 to signed the contract.
Councillor Robert Hobson says he would have liked to have seen a contract where the portion of RCMP costs were shared equally. "Everybody doesn't pay the same policing costs in British Columbia and it doesn't make any sense to me that they don't," says Hobson. "We as larger municipalities really pay a disproportionate share of policing in my view, but I know rural people will vigorously dispute that because they feel they don't get the same level of service and small municipalities will say it's hard for them to contribute." Hobson says crime doesn't adhere to municipal or rural boundaries and, a blended system where everybody paid the same would be more equitable. Despite that, Hobson says as far as what Kelowna gets out of the contract in terms of the ability to review and question the RCMP, it's about as good as could be achieved. "I think we have some new tools here, hopefully, that will allow us to identify local priorities and to hold the RCMP accountable. The issue we were finding at UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) were the surprises in the system -- the bills that were sent without any real explanation," says Hobson. "I hope we have more of that accountability with the checks and reviews that are here." The new agreement will allow for a greater role in determining police priorities and longer term planning for service requirements. The agreement kicked in April 1, however, municipalities have until April 30 to signed the contract.
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