The Windsor Police Service Board approved the 2025 police budget with a 7.1 per cent increase.
At the latest meeting, the board was presented with a proposed budget of 111,797,703 a 7.9 per cent increase compared to 2024.
"There were some positions that were being requested that the board did not approve, there were some other positions that we looked at internally and operational efficiencies. The board went through a line by line review, looked at what could be removed from the budget and had a discussion with the police executive and came to a conclusion," said Board Chair Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Most of the increase comes from contractual obligations, salaries, and pensions.
"Policing is an expensive service, it's one of the biggest services that we deliver in the city and there's a cost to doing it. We certainly want to make sure the community is safe and secure. We have a great team with the police and the deputies and the men and women who work for the Windsor Police Service," said Dilkens.
The increased police budget represents an increase of over 1 per cent to the City of Windsor's operational budget in 2025. The budget still needs to be approved by Windsor City Council.