The Sarnia Police Services Board has accepted a smaller than requested budget increase for 2024.
The board approved a $33.4 million dollar budget Thursday, after receiving city council direction to reduce its overall budget by $475,000 December 5.
The board agreed to hold off on plans to put $450,000 into reserves and accept a plan to reduce the operating budget by $25,000, by limiting technology funds among other things.
Chief Derek Davis said he respected the decision of council and the police board.
"We'll implement to the best of our abilities within the constraints we're given and we'll do the best we can as we always have," Davis said. "The canine unit, the front line sergeants, improvements to the front line and how we deliver community safety... that is always, and will continue to be, our priorities. So, those are still planned implementations in early 2024."
Chief Davis said reserves help manage unplanned issues, like cruiser replacements.
"There could be a vehicular collision where we lose equipment, and if that is to happen to us then we would have to replace that equipment. What we don't have right now is sufficient reserves to deal with large unexpended expenditures," he said. "That's been conveyed. If that does occur and we do have to have funding, that will be something we'll raise to the board and the board will determine where we go from there."
Chief Davis said the service is dealing with many years of catch-up, trying to get building, equipment and other deficiencies addressed, without built up reserves.
"The building has about $4 million in identified unfunded liabilities now," said Davis. "That's in terms of public access, in terms of compliance with current building code. So, the building has significant deficiencies and that doesn't speak to the unique issues of what a police department requires."
Chief Davis said unique issues include public access, security, a firing range, jail cells that meet modern standards, and the ability to manage prisoners.
"Last year, the board approved a needs assessment to be done," Davis said. "We are currently in the process of a third party engineering firm giving us an independent assessment of what those needs might look like and the direction from the board, right now, is we will work collaboratively with the city to identify whatever those solutions are. Whether it's a renovation, whether it's a new building."
Before delivering its decision, board members expressed concerns over the costs associated with appealing the cut delivered by city council.
Chair Paul Wiersma wasn't aware of what the specific cost would have been.
"I think when we take a look at the cut, $475,000 -- representing about 1.4 per cent of the total budget -- it's a significant number, but it's not an overly significant number," Wiersma said. "So, we still have a 9.89 per cent increase in the budget for next year. We are pleased with that."
The nearly two digit increase came one year after the board approved a historic increase of 11.5 per cent in spending.