A tale of two budgets: the cops and the city
In a way I’m glad the Ottawa Police Services Board is completely unaccountable to the people of Ottawa and that they can demand whatever they want and expect the provincial government to make us pay for it.
I’m glad because it shows us what a municipal budget – shorn of tax freeze-crazed ideology – should look like.
The police are asking for $14 million more next year on a $204 million operations budget. About six per cent more.
This despite crime being on the decline in Ottawa. They’ll get it. That’s pretty much a lock.
The city, on the other hand, is looking at serious cuts. Closing libraries, ice rinks and community centres and hiking transit fees, to be precise.
City staff won’t even contemplate presenting a budget with a six per cent increase on the revenue side.
How does that work?
Ottawa Police Chief Vern White says he wants his increase because “people don’t want their service to decrease even when their neighbourhood becomes safer.” Besides, he argues, “We don’t put this money in our pockets to run around and waste.”
Mayor Larry O’Brien could just repeat those words when tabling a budget that maintained services. And he’d be fine.
If only.
