After months of consultations and reports, city council has finally weighed in publicly on the 2023 Sarnia police draft budget.
The document proposes an 11.5 per cent increase, the highest ever in the service's history.
Councillor Terry Burrell, who noted the increase initially during a budget overview in November, expressed his displeasure over the draft on Monday.
"This ask is way out of line to where it should be," Burrell said. "You can make up all kinds of numbers to say this has to be, or that has to be, in that. But, I don't know, it just seems to me that this hasn't been looked at tightly enough."
Burrell felt the service could come forward with a more "reasonable" budget.
"Maybe some of this should be done over three or four years, as opposed to trying to accomplish it all in one, because people are hurting financially as well. To think that we can stick our hand in their pockets and solve somebody else's problems... I don't think it is going to go over very well."
Councillor Adam Kilner took exception to Burrell's comments.
"I just don't know how you can monetize living in a community like Sarnia and the solution is that's too much money," Kilner said. "This is your safety. This is your wellbeing. This is an incredible community and I think we have a responsibility to really be discerning of this report."
Kilner recalled hearing from people who feel imprisoned in their homes as a result of safety concerns.
"I can't help but continue to think of that woman who said, 'I used to walk the dog at midnight, now I can't even leave my house during the day.' Is that the kind of community we want to live in," Kilner asked.
Councillor Anne Marie Gillis said this year -- compared to previous terms of council she's served including her most recent term from 2014 to 2018 -- one thing in particular stood out.
"When you look at 20 to 22 homicides in the past two years, compared to one, or none, in a four year span... there's your answer right there," Gillis said, implying she supports the increase.
Comments made by councillors George Vandenberg, Brian White and Chrissy McRoberts also appeared to support the draft.
Sarnia Police Services Board Chair Mayor Mike Bradley and board member councillor Dave Boushy voted against the proposed $30.4 million dollar document before it was presented to council.
Bradley was absent from Monday's meeting.
Sarnia council will consider the increase for final approval during budget deliberations January 10.
