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Wellington OPP forecasting 2.5 per cent budget increase for 2021

Deputy treasurer says biggest impact is a $400,000 increase in contract costs
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Wellington County OPP operations centre in Aboyne. Keegan Kozolanka/GuelphToday file photo

COUNTY OF WELLINGTON –  Wellington County OPP have forecasted a 2.5 per cent increase to their budget for 2021. 

This projected increase was presented as part of a 10 year plan to the County of Wellington’s police services board meeting Wednesday morning. 

A report to the board shows the tax levy requirement is nearly $18 million for 2021, up from $17.5 million in 2020. 

Deputy treasurer Susan Aram explained that the biggest impact is an over $400,000 increase to contract costs.

The cost per household for OPP service will increase to $428.50 from $420.80. 

County councillor David Anderson asked how this cost per household compares to other municipal police forces. 

Board chair Joanne Ross-Zuj said this information is available but is unsure of the value as municipal forces are under different arrangements than those covered by OPP.

“I can say with great certainty the OPP will be cheaper per household,” said CAO Scott Wilson. 

Wilson noted that Orangeville transitioned to the OPP as a cost savings measure. 

Wilson said that the county’s budget is close to being established but won’t be fully approved until the end of January. 

“I will say there isn’t likely to be much change between today and the start of January,” Wilson said. 

Also discussed at the police services board meeting:

Opioid trafficking investigations

In Inspector Paul Richardson’s detachment commander report for October, it notes that there are ongoing investigations into fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in response to recent overdose deaths that occured in the county. 

Richardson stressed to the board that they are not focused on arresting users. 

“Our focus is not the addiction, not the end user, our focus is always the supplier of the opioids,” Richardson said.

He highlighted the good samaritan act which he said promotes calling emergency services during a suspected overdose without the worry of possession arrests or simple probation breaches. 

Response to traffic complaints

Richardson noted that new traffic data collection devices, called black cats, are not being impacted by cold weather as they are Canadian-made. 

On the topic of traffic complaints, Richardson said he wanted to reiterate their response going forward as being evidence based and intelligence-led. 

He explained that once they get traffic complaints, they get more details from the complainant and do an analysis of other comments in the area and crash data.

“Then we’ll look at the black cat deployment and gathering intelligence,” Richardson said, adding that they will determine if there is an issue and when is it happening. 

“So we can have effective deployment of our resources, putting them in the right place at the right time.”


Keegan Kozolanka

About the Author: Keegan Kozolanka

Keegan Kozolanka is a general assignment reporter for EloraFergusToday, covering Wellington County. Keegan has been working with Village Media for more than two years and helped launch EloraFergusToday in 2021.
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