CORNWALL – The city’s police board has approved a nearly three per cent increase for the 2020 Cornwall Police Service budget.
The board was given a presentation by Chief Danny Aikman Thursday on the $19.6 million budget, which has a 2.98 per cent increase.
Around 87 per cent of the department’s expenses are on salaries and benefits ($18.6 million), which can’t been changed because they are tied to collective agreements.
Aikman told the board that this has been the most difficult budget in recent times, explaining that approved budgets in previous years below the cost of living has caught up with the department. The increases were 1.99 per cent this year, 1.56 per cent in 2018 and 1.43 per cent in 2017.
The budget still has to go to city council for final approval, where it could be sent back to the police board if councillors are not happy with it.
The Cornwall Police Service has 88 front-line officers, 10 special constables, 38 civilian members and 14 part-time civilian employees.