Policing costs still unknown

They’re expected to foot the bill but district municipalities are still confused about what the final cost for policing will be when the province “downloads” the service this year.
District clerks and treasurers said they were given two different calculations from Ministry of Municipal Affairs reps during an information session last Friday–one listing a $91.25 per household charge; the other $91.25 per residential lot.
At the Rainy River District Municipal Association meeting here Saturday, Reg Lake, with the ministry’s regional office in Thunder Bay, reiterated to municipal leaders that policing calculations will be based on all residential lots.
“It was applied on the basis of residential improved and unimproved property,” he said.
But Jaye Wood, with the same office in Thunder Bay, said while the Ministry of Finance figures included all residential lots, the OPP calculations–which are slated to be released in about three weeks–will be done on a per-household basis.
And that has municipalities in the dark over what the bill will be, with a significant difference between the two figures.
“I was given two figures,” noted Pat Giles, clerk for Lake of the Woods and Dawson townships.
For instance, Lake of the Woods will pay $80,000 for policing if the cost is based on all the residential lots whether they were improved or vacant. But on a per household basis, that bill would come in at $45,000.
Emo also received two different figures–one more than double the other.
“When we saw the first set of figures [in October], it was charged on vacant lots, too,” noted Emo clerk Brenda Cooke. “We’re waiting on the OPP’s actual cost to have a determination of what the numbers will be.”
Alberton also received two figures. Clerk Faye Flatt said on a per household basis, the cost would be $29,000. But the amount the ministry gave as Alberton’s portion was $68,861.
Flatt didn’t know where that second figure came from. If it was based on all residential lots, that would total 754 in Alberton.
“I know that I don’t have 754 residential lots,” she insisted, noting the township only sent out 516 tax bills–and that included the businesses.
On the plus side, Flatt said she was told the Community Reinvestment Fund was to cover the difference between the two figures.
But NDP leader and local MPP Howard Hampton warned that once that Community Reinvestment Fund runs out in two years, municipalities will be left footing that entire bill.
Meanwhile, regardless of how the cost is calculated, it’s still up to municipal councils on how that will be billed. And Giles didn’t think residential taxpayers would be footing the entire amount.
“I would assume that some of this will be picked up by the mill rate,” Giles said, adding he hoped the actual policing costs would be in by the end of February.
Fort Frances and Atikokan already pay directly for policing in their communities.