Blair asks for more money in 2012 police budget
Posted October 3, 2011 12:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Chief Bill Blair is asking the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) to increase the Toronto Police Service’s 2012 operating budget to $944.7 million, up 1.5 per cent or $14.3 million.
The request contradicts an order by the Ford administration that all city departments cut their respective budgets by 10 per cent for next year. The city is trying to plug a 2012 operating deficit of $774 million.
Blair submitted his budget request to the board late last week, and the matter will be considered at a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
On Monday, Mayor Rob Ford met with Blair at city hall and afterwards told reporters that, “The chief understands the challenges that we’re facing in the city, … and I feel very confident that the board and the chief will find the efficiencies that we need.”
Blair said a 10 per cent budget cut would mean fewer people on the payroll.
“I’m not recommending that to the board, and I’m certainly not recommending that to the mayor.”
Blair said that the force has implemented every “efficiency” it could find, and “we quite frankly have really stretched the organization and our ability to continue to deliver adequate and effective policing services.”
The 2012 operating budget request is $58.4 million higher than the operating budget target of $886.4 million recommended by the city’s chief financial officer.
In his report, Blair cited the “estimated impact of all labour contract settlements” projected to be about $23.2 million in 2012 as the main reason for the budget increase.
“No additional uniform or civilian positions have been included in the budget request, all uniform hiring has again been deferred and civilian hiring frozen to the extent possible in 2012,” Blair said in the report.
The budget request assumes a reduction of 18 positions because of the board-approved Voluntary Exit Incentive Program, as well as the elimination of one deputy chief position.
It also includes the funding required to achieve an average of 5,441 uniformed officers, which is below the revised target of 5,604. Civilian staff is being reduced by six to 2,062.
Blair said he has no intention of resigning despite comments made by TPSB vice chair and Ford ally Coun. Michael Thompson, who said in recent days that the chief’s job may be in jeopardy if he can’t find the 10 per cent in cuts.
At the Wednesday meeting, the board will also consider the 2012 operating budget of the parking enforcement unit, the 2012 capital budget for Toronto police, as well as a report from the board’s chair regarding the 2012 operating budget for the board.
