Officers lined the walls of an overcrowded council chamber on Monday as Sarnia Police Service Board Chair Paul Wiersma and Chief Derek Davis stressed the need for a new police headquarters and the possibility of a phased funding approach.
The proposed facility was cut from the draft 2026 budget through the use of strong mayor powers.
"We appreciate that the proposed city budget does include the 2026 police operating budget (of 6.5 per cent). However, we are concerned that the $91 million capital request for a new police facility was not included," said Wiersma.
He agreed, $91 million is a big ask.
"The police service board would like to propose that it be completed in phases," Wiersma said. "We are asking for $25 million for the first phase. This would include building a training facility, a back-up communications centre, and a firing range."
Wiersma said phase one would also include preparing and servicing the land (within the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park) for the proposed facility, and extending Alexi Drive.
One of the benefits of moving forward with phase one would be the ability to end the lease at Lambton Mall, which will cost $265,000 over the next two years. The site is currently used as a secondary training space.
"City staff have indicated that $25 million financed over 30 years at 4.59 per cent would result in annual principal and interest rates of approximately $1.5 million. Significantly less than the $91 million ask," Wiersma said. "This represents an estimated 1.71 per cent increase to the tax levy."
Wiersma called it "a good compromise."
Mayor Mike Bradley said he now has to look at the "whole budget process" because the initial funding request was for $91 million.
"I don't know what to do because you were responsible -- you put it forward. I dealt with what was put in front of me. There was no talk about a secondary ask," said Bradley as he questioned if the SPS budget would be resubmitted.
"We've done our part. Now we have suggested that in light of the $91 million not being included in the budget, we are offering another option," Wiersma replied.
Chief Davis said the project itself was always proposed in phases.
"With any kind of large capital project, it doesn't happen overnight. The project has to be tendered, it has to be built in phases and payments are made at different milestones," Davis said. "I would respectfully submit that this is actually speaking to a milestone of the larger project."
City/County Councillor Chrissy McRoberts -- who also sits on the SPS Board --said as a taxpayer, she appreciates the phased approach.
"A smaller bite is easier to manage," McRoberts said.
All funding proposals heard on Monday were deferred to budget deliberations, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 25 at 9 a.m.
