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

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

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The service’s budget ask — an additional $93.8 million in funding, which represents a 7% increase from last year’s total — will be presented to the Toronto Police Service Board’s budget committee on Dec. 8.

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If approved, the City of Toronto’s budget committee will get its say when councillors begin deliberating 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 continuing modernization of the service,” a statement from Toronto Police said.

Service expects to add 143 net new officers

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

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Last week, Toronto Police expanded the NCO program to include four new neighbourhoods and the TTC — which includes eight NCOs dedicated to Line 1 from Union to Eglinton stations and prioritized patrols at Union and Bloor stations.

“The multi-year hiring plan allows the service to address core service delivery including frontline and investigative capacity,” police said.

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Salaries expected to hit $1.1B next year

Overall, the police service is asking for more than $1.4 billion next year with more than 75% of that earmarked for salaries. If approved, staffing the police service would cost the city $1.1 billion next year, an increase of about $90 million, in addition to $317 million in benefits costs, about $70 million in premium pay and about $50 million in collective bargaining costs.

The collective bargaining costs are expected to be more than offset by about $70 million in additional revenue.

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

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