Toronto Police asking for $93M more in next year’s budget

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Toronto police are asking for a budget increase of about $100 million next year, citing higher costs associated with a new collective bargaining agreement, employee benefits and multi-year service hiring plan.

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The service's budget request – an additional $93.8 million in funding, a 7 per cent increase over last year – will go before the Toronto Police Service Board's budget committee on Dec. 8.

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If approved, the City of Toronto Budget Committee will weigh in when Council members will begin discussions early next year.

“The request reflects continued investment in the multi-year hiring plan approved by the board last year and supports safer communities and continued modernization of the service,” Toronto police said in a statement.

Service expects to add 143 new officers

The budget increase will allow for the hiring of 143 new officers, Toronto police said, to “keep pace with growth and demand and improve essential and priority services.” Officials also committed to expanding the local community officer (NCO) program to four additional areas.

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Last week, Toronto police expanded the sergeant program to include four new neighborhoods and the TTC, which includes eight Line 1 sergeants from Union to Eglinton stations and priority patrols at Union and Bloor stations.

“The multi-year hiring plan allows the service to provide essential services, including field work and investigations,” police said.

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Salaries are expected to reach $1.1 billion next year.

Overall the police service asking for more than $1.4 billion next year more than 75% of this amount is intended for wages. If approved, staffing the police service would cost the city $1.1 billion next year, which would be about $90 million, plus $317 million in benefits costs, about $70 million in bonuses and about $50 million in collective bargaining costs.

Collective bargaining costs are expected to be more than offset by approximately $70 million in additional revenue.

This also came after Police Chief Myron Demkiw contract renewed in September for another four years. His contract, which was originally due to expire at the end of the month, now runs until January 2030.

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