LaSalle Demands Equitable Police Funding Amid Soaring Costs

URGENT UPDATE: LaSalle Town Council has just announced a decisive move to secure equitable police funding for communities, regardless of their policing models. Mayor Crystal Meloche revealed this plan during a council meeting on Monday night, emphasizing the necessity for municipalities with local police forces to receive similar financial support as those serviced by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

This letter to the province comes in response to alarming financial pressures faced by LaSalle and other municipalities. Over the past two budget cycles, the province has allocated approximately $77 million in one-time funding to OPP-policed municipalities to alleviate skyrocketing policing costs. However, no comparable support has been extended to those operating their own police forces, despite facing similar, if not greater, financial strains.

“The province must ensure that our municipal police officers have the same support as OPP detachments,” Meloche stated. The disparity in funding is hitting home as OPP-policed municipalities report increases in policing bills of over 20% to 30% due to recent wage negotiations.

LaSalle Police Chief Michael Pearce highlighted that last year, 79 municipalities voiced similar concerns regarding soaring costs, a significant number of the 330 municipalities policed by OPP. The province’s response included an 11% cap on cost increases for this year, yet capping is not an option for municipalities with their own police services.

Meloche’s letter also underscores that while communities can apply for provincial policing grants, they often face competition from OPP-policed areas, complicating their funding landscape. Currently, the LaSalle Police Service receives around $600,000 in provincial grants, which is insufficient given the rising costs of compliance mandated by the new Community Safety and Policing Act.

The funding disparity raises urgent concerns. Councilor Terry Burns pointed out that while Lakeshore received $750,000 in funding, LaSalle did not receive any, highlighting the unequal distribution of resources. Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey clarified that their subsidy, totaling just over $557,000, was complemented by an additional $250,000 from police reserves to minimize tax increases.

The financial burden is becoming untenable for municipalities relying on local police services. Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow echoed the need for funding parity, as his community faces a staggering 21% increase in policing costs for 2025.

Local leaders are urging immediate action from the province to address these disparities. As the situation develops, the LaSalle council awaits a response from the Minister of the Solicitor General regarding their urgent concerns about police funding.

As municipalities brace for potential financial fallout, the demand for equitable police funding has never been more critical. The LaSalle Town Council’s letter represents a pivotal step in advocating for fairness in police funding across Ontario, a matter that affects both public safety and community budgets.

Residents and municipal leaders alike are closely monitoring this situation, keen to see how the province will respond to their pressing needs.