Affordable housing projects in the city will benefit from a nearly $1.6 million surplus in the 2021 police budget, council’s committee of the whole decided Monday, though not from the entire amount.
Committee members unanimously agreed to allow Guelph Police Service to keep $1 million in reserve while $575,832 be directed to the affordable housing reserve, which is used to fund affordable and supportive housing projects in the city.
“There is a huge amount of focus on housing,” Mayor Cam Guthrie said of provincial and federal spending plans, which would require a municipal contribution. “Our reserve is, I believe, a little bit low.”
Deputy CAO Colleen Clack-Bush explained the affordable housing reserve started the year with a $2.6 million balance, but $1.27 million of that has already been allocated, with a further $1.36 million in recommended spending expected by the end of the month.
Though committee members unanimously approved a series of transfers to reserve accounts on Monday, the amendment sending $575,832 to the affordable housing reserve passed 10-3, with councillors Phil Allt, Dominique O’Rourke and Christine Billings in opposition.
Acknowledging the need, or potential need, for both reserves, Allt expressed concern with pitting one cause against another, while O’Rourke noted she’s “a little uncomfortable” shifting between reserve accounts but may end up supporting it when the matter returns to council for ratification at the end of the month.
The committee decided to partially comply with a Guelph Police Services board request to set up a reserve account with the entire 2021 surplus in case provincial grants stop flowing for things such as court services and the Integrated Mobile Police And Crisis Team, which sees mental health professionals respond to calls along with officers.
“Staff don’t have any concerns with what’s on the floor,” city treasurer Tara Baker said in response to a question from Allt ahead of the vote.
Coun. Mike Salisbury put forward a motion directing $1 million to the affordable housing reserve and returning the rest to police, essentially reversing the approved motion, but that died after he failed to find a seconder.
The GPS surplus for 2021 is largely the result of a decrease in overtime pay and unfilled job vacancies.
