Barrie city police are wanting 5.76 per cent more in their 2025 budget.
On Sept. 12, 2024, Police Chief Rich Johnston and finance manager Tyrell Turner presented the proposed 2025 budget request to the Barrie Police Services Board.
"This proposed budget reflects the necessary balance between fiscal responsibility and ensuring the service has the necessary resources to meet the expectations of the community both now, and in the future," stated a police release issued Monday.
The proposed 2025 Barrie Police Service budget, as presented, reflects a combined increase of 5.79 per cent more than the approved 2024 budget.
The overall request for the upcoming year is $71.4 million.
This year’s police budget is $67.5 million, an 6.78 per cent increase from 2023, when it was $63.24 million.
Once the Barrie police budget is approved by the police services board, it still requires city council approval during its budget process, expected toward the end of this year.
The 2025 Barrie Police Service budget proposal identifies three primary themes that align with the additional requirements compared to last year’s budget: staffing and service levels, legislative requirements, and technology and innovation.
Staffing and service levels represent approximately 95 per cent of the total Barrie police budget.
Legislative requirements are non-discretionary, according to city police, and the service has little or no ability to influence them due to contractual, third-party, legislative or necessary requirements to meet the needs of a growing city.
Examples of these include the introduction of the new Community Safety and Policing Act, which was enacted on April 1 of this year, continued Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) related legislation and required supports for members suffering from mental stress injuries, as well as the implementation of the provincially prescribed Next Generation 911.
Lastly, investments in technology are required to ensure Barrie police can meet the expectations of our community to provide a proactive and innovative police service.
Barrie police says it continues to explore all available grant funding opportunities to help support or expand these initiatives.
The proposed 2025 Barrie police budget will be formally considered at the next police service board meeting, scheduled to take place on Oct. 17, 2024.
