Thursday, March 28, 2024

Province forces Esquimalt to pony up over $183,000 toward VicPD’s 2022 budget

Share

Since May of 2022, the VicPD’s budget has been in limbo. 

The Township of Esquimalt refused to sign off on their proposed 2022 operating budget of $1,342,525. Specifically, VicPD determined they needed to hire 10 new positions and Esquimalt did not sign off on the decision.

VicPD requires Esquimalt’s city council to sign off on budgetary issues and matters of importance like this ever since the Amalgamation Act of 2002. 

The Amalgamation Act effectively combined the two municipalities police forces and determined how much each would be responsible to pay into annual budgets. 

The current framework of the amalgamated police force’s budget expires in December, 2023.

Of the $1,342,525 that requires approval, Esquimalt is responsible for $183,523.

The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board has since made an official appeal to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General for approval of their budget.

A decision was made on Wednesday and the Ministry approved the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board’s appeal.

Now that the province has stepped in, the Township of Esquimalt has had their hand forced, and have no choice but to pay their share into the now approved budget.  

Victoria will be responsible for $1,159,002 of the total while Esquimalt’s share remains $183,523.

“I am fully aware that funding for policing represents a significant portion of every municipality’s core budget and that tough choices have to be made by elected officials at budget time,” said VicPD’s Chief Constable Del Manak. 

“This decision by the province, however, confirms to me that public safety cannot be compromised and communities must be protected by adequate and effective policing services in order to thrive.”

Part of this newly approved money will be going towards 10 new positions within VicPD.

Those positions are:

  • 2 Co-Responder Team officers (with Island Health)
  • 2 Assertive Community Treatment Officers
  • 1 Cybercrime Officer
  • 1 Cultural Liaison Officer
  • 2 Front Desk Specialists
  • 1 Records Specialist
  • 1 Business Intelligence Analyst

Chief Constable Del Manak also stated that he and officers within VicPD remain committed to providing the best possible community-based policing service to both Victoria and Esquimalt.

mm
Curtis Blandy
curtis@victoriabuzz.com

Read more

Latest Stories