Winnipeg police budget goes to council with no additional money

Winnipeg's executive policy committee is sending the police budget on to city council with no increases.

The committee voted unanimously Wednesday morning to pass the 2016 operating and capital budget with few changes, including to police force funding.

Debate heated up at city hall on Tuesday, when members of the police board said the budget as proposed is $2.4 million short of what police needand ultimately will mean staff cuts.

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Mayor Brian Bowman said the police budget is unique in that it has risen 80 per cent over the past 10 years to $280 million.

He believes the budget is sufficient even taking collective agreements into consideration.

"The financial need to honour the collective agreements is $9.7 million. We're proposing to increase it by $16.7 million, at a rate that is roughly triple the rate of inflation," Bowman said.

"We believe that there is sufficient funding there to ensure that there aren't staff adjustments," hesaid.

The Winnipeg police board's role is go to through the budget lineby line to find savings, Bowman said.

"Obviously we would ask that they look [at] equipment, they look at capital, they look at investments in the new police headquarters," Bowman said.

"We're continuing to make increased investments, but decisions will have to be made by the police board."

Bowman was asked if he was alluding to equipment such as the police helicopter as budget items where the board could find savings.

"Those are all things that the police board should be looking at, should be looking at where do taxpayers get the greatest value for the dollars that council decides are going to police."

City council votes on the budget next week.