RCMP Adjusting To Budget

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISS FM Wednesday, 14 January 2015 17:12

Policing costs make up 28 percent of the city of Vernon's 2015 budget -- just over 9 million dollars. RCMP Superintendent Reg Burgess says that doesn't include funding should there be a major crime to investigate. "It's pretty well impossible to plan on say a multiple murder and what it's going to cost, so it's difficult to actually build that kind of a buffer into your budget," says Burgess. However, Burgess says should there be a major incident, the city will use funds from its RCMP reserves. "The way the city and CAO are doing it, which is allowing the RCMP reserve to build again, is, in my opinion, a smart and correct way to do it. They are allowing the reserve to grow to the point where funds are there for a significant event, such as a multiple murder, a who-done-it murder or this government decision that could be a significant hit to HR costs if the RCMP win this Supreme Court back pay lawsuit," Burgess tells Kiss FM. Burgess says staying under city administration's 1.8% cap was not that difficult this year. "Because of H-R cost reductions, and right now we don't have a contract with a wage increase. Next year, that is going to be a huge challenge depending on what the wage increases are for the RCMP," adds Burgess. Burgess says, for example, if they get a 2% wage hike, staying under a 1.8% cap will be tough."Something will have to give," he says. The city's overall budget increase is projected to be 3.7% to maintain services, cover increases, and add to an infrastructure fund.