Relief coming for Ontario municipalities facing major OPP bill hike | CBC News

Small and rural Ontario municipalities saddled with significant hikes to their law enforcement bills from Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will see financial relief from the province, the Ministry of the Solicitor General said Friday.

More than $77 million has been proposed by the province to help offset the higher costs, driven by wage increases in the four-year contract reached over the summer by the province and the Ontario Provincial Police Association.

Officers received raises of 4.75 per cent retroactive to 2023, 4.5 per cent for 2024, and 2.75 per cent for 2025 and 2026. The deal followed the repeal of Bill 124, which capped public sector wages, including for OPP officers.

In a statement, the province said its proposal would include a 3.75 per cent bill reduction on 2023 total reconciled costs, and a 44 per cent reduction on 2023 reconciled overtime costs.

The proposal also includes a 10 per cent bill reduction for policing costs invoiced for 2025.

OPP serves 330 municipalities who don’t have their own police force.

Municipalities blindsided

Rural Ontario mayors who spoke with CBC News said they were blindsided by significant OPP bill increases in the double-digits compared to the previous year as they entered budget season.

Some reported increases above 20 per cent, while others were handed bills that were more than 30 per cent higher that they would have to pass along to rate payers in the form of higher taxes.

In one case, involving the small Township of Pelee, OPP costs were set to jump by 107 per cent next year.

Ontario’s solicitor general, Michael Kerzner, said in a statement that the relief would “help municipal leaders balance their budgets and invest in their communities while ensuring no change to the policing” provided by the OPP.

“AMO is pleased that the government has listened to concerns about the increase in Ontario Provincial Police billing recovery costs with this proposal,” said Robin Jones, president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, in a statement issued by the ministry.

“Municipal fiscal sustainability is under pressure across Ontario, and municipalities struggle to balance their budgets. This proposition is an important recognition of this challenge and will help support quality of life for residents across the province.”

The organization has called for a review of the municipal and provincial funding arrangements for public services, including policing.

The province said it would examine options to review the current OPP billing model, in which municipalities pay base costs for things like routine patrol and proactive policing, and reactive calls for service, which can vary in amount.

In the same announcement, the province said they would also continue the Court Security & Prisoner Transportation Transfer Payment Program, which helps municipalities offset costs for court security and prisoner transportation.