Ottawa police budget brings new recruits, tax increase

The Ottawa Police Serviceissetting aside money in its 2017 draft budget to hire 25 new officers, reinforcementsit says it needs to providesecurity at events celebrating Canada's150th birthday.

The hires were planned, and are among 75 officers being added to the force over three years, including another 25 in 2018. The new hires are on top of recruits brought in to replace retiring officers.

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"We developed this budget to meet the policing needs of our community and to address the needs of our members," said Chief Charles Bordeleau in a statement.

"As a police service we continue to focus on our organizational priorities of guns and gangs, violence against women and traffic safety while planning for the major events expected in 2017."

The police have had a challenging time in 2016, with arecord number of shootings.

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The new hires are part of the 2017 draft budget tabled Monday afternoon, two days earlier than originally planned. The 2017 operating budget is $320.2 million, resulting in a tax rate increase of two per cent, or about $11 per household.

That's an increase of $8.9 million over 2016 police spending.

"This budget is in line with the direction of the board and addresses the policing needs of Ottawa residents," said police services board chair Eli El-Chantiry.

In order to keep the budget increase under the two per cent threshold, the force is introducing a number of efficiencies, including:

• A new staffing strategy to recoup $2 million in overtime costs.
• Re-allocation of $1.5 million in existingcapital funds.
• Absorbing $500,000 in inflationary costs.
• A $500,000 infusion from the general reserve to fund various projects.

Members of the public can comment on the police budget at the beginning of the police services board meeting on Nov. 28. The board will vote on the budget then, sending it on to city council for final approval on Dec. 14.