Wage hike, CREST boost police budget

An alternate radio system and higher wages for police officers could add $40 to the average property tax bill for Victoria and Esquimalt residents next year.

The Victoria Police Department unveiled its 2010 budget request to Victoria and Esquimalt councils in a joint police board meeting on Thursday.

Police are asking for a budget boost of $2.35 million, suggesting a possible two per cent tax increase.

Police Chief Jamie Graham and police controller Scott Seivewright presented the proposed $40.5-million budget. It represents a 6.2 percent increase from last year’s $38-million budget.

“These increases are just to keep the lights on; to pay for things we have to pay,” said police Chief Jamie Graham.

The Victoria Police Department’s collective agreement expires in March and more than $1.7 million might be needed to cover officers’ and other staff’s wage increases, said Seivewright.

Contentious issues for councillors included the doubling of the cost for PRIME – the police computer system that links all B.C. departments’ records – to $268,000 next year, up from $134,000 in 2009, as well as $500,000 set aside to administer an alternate radio system as backup to CREST radio system, which was designed to link the region’s emergency response personnel but has been plagued by spotty coverage, if needed.

The department paid $60,000 for an alternate radio system during the Oct. 30 Olympic torch relay, citing concerns CREST couldn’t handle the traffic load.

“We are not willing to pay ... for two radio systems,” said Esquimalt Coun. Randall Garrison. “That’s not a (proposal) I can take to our citizens.”

Graham countered, calling CREST “unsafe.”

Graham added he hopes to hire two new officers in 2010, costing $80,000.

Victoria taxpayers contribute to a little more than 85 per cent of the police budget, or $34.5 million and Esquimalt residents pay slightly less than 15 per cent, or $6 million.

Seivewright presents a final version of the budget to both councils in late January or early February, when councils vote on whether to approve the document.

The Victoria Police Department employs about 240 officers.

ecardone@vicnews.com

+More News Headlines
<Back to Mobile Edition