As rural municipalities across Ontario face double digit increases in policing costs, the provincial government is stepping in to help out.
The province is proposing to provide over $77 million in financial relief to municipalities to help offset the increased cost of municipal police services provided by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), including a 44 per cent bill reduction on 2023 reconciled overtime costs.
The province said funds will primarily help small and rural communities address budget impacts resulting from the collective bargaining agreement reached with the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) in July 2024.
The four year deal included general salary increases retroactive to 2023.
In a news release Friday, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the government is working closely with municipal partners and the women and men in uniform to keep communities across Ontario safe.
“The financial relief we are proposing will help municipal leaders balance their budgets and invest in their communities while ensuring no change to the policing provided by the OPP that keeps families and businesses safe," said Kerzner.
The OPP provides municipal policing services to 330 municipalities across the province.