Motion moved by Member Curry
OPS Long Term Financial Sustainability staff-level working group
WHEREAS the Ottawa Police Service Board (the Board) is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services in the municipality, as defined by Ontario Regulation 392/23 under the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA); and
WHEREAS Section 50 of the CSPA requires that the Board approve the annual budget allocations for the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) to maintain the police service and provide it with equipment and facilities; and
WHEREAS the OPS continues to engage with various stakeholders across the city, which includes neighbourhood conversations, polling, community meetings and other meaningful discussions; and
WHEREAS the feedback from the community was clear: residents want to see stronger relationships with OPS, increased police visibility, and more responsive service delivery; and
WHEREAS OPS also consulted its members through discussions along the chain of command, frontline conversations, employee resource groups, and through multiple polls; and
WHEREAS COVID-19, the convoy and ongoing protests and pressures locally and globally have resulted in complexities and changing needs for policing resources in order to meet the needs of the community, and for the alignment of the OPS budget to be financially sustainable; and
WHEREAS both the federal and provincial governments have acknowledged the local pressures and have provided financial resources to the OPS;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OPSB recommend that:
- That the Chief establish an OPS Long Term Financial Sustainability staff-level working group to explore all of the financial and non-financial mitigation levers to develop a multi-year financial sustainably forecast budget and discuss strategies to manage future police tax levy increases; and
- That the staff working group consider one-time funding strategies, efficiencies and opportunities for continuous improvement that not only improve service to the public, but also help ensure the Police Service is operating as efficiently as possible; and
- That the staff working group leverage the expertise of City staff such as the CFO & GM of Finance and Corporate Services, drawing lessons from the City’s Service Review Program, to explore financial mitigation and sustainability options to set a path to long-term sustainability for OPS; and
- That the Chief continue to engage and solicit input from the community and Members of Council regarding the budget; and
- That the working group meet as frequently as needed, with the Chair and Vice-Chair of OPSB attending as observers from time to time, until the Chief reports to the OPSB as part of the 2027 OPS Budget process; and
- The Chief and OPS staff continue to collaborate with City staff to explore and identify funding strategies, efficiencies and opportunities for continuous improvement as part of future budget cycles.
Carried