Kincardine is facing an increase of around 195 thousand dollars to the cost of having the OPP police the municipality.
The extra cost will be felt when the municipality renews its policing contract with the force this spring.
The current five-year agreement expires on May 2nd.
Inspector Paul Holmes says the increase comes from a change in the OPP’s formula for the cost of direct operating expenses like fuel and vehicles.
Holmes says Commissioner Julian Fantino wants to see those adjustments settled with municipalities more regularly in order to prevent significant increases in policing costs from happening all at once when contracts come up for renewal.
Holmes says other reasons for the increase include the pending ratification of an agreement between the OPP and the association representing its officers which would see a wage increase of over 2.3 percent.
The South Bruce Detachment will also soon be required to have a permanent Staff Sergeant which will also increase costs.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says the reasons for the increase are justifiable.
However, he questions if the municipality has any say about the need for a permanent Staff Sergeant and would like to meet with the Detachment Commander to discuss if it is required.
Kraemer says the OPP hasn’t had the opportunity to adjust it’s direct costs in Kincardine for five years and that, along with the wage increases are the biggest reasons behind the increased policing costs.
Inspector Holmes says the OPP determines the level of policing service a municipality needs based on the types of calls most commonly made and the geographic area involved.
The OPP has policed rural areas of Kincardine for decades and took over the former Town of Kincardine Police Force in 1994.
