Insinna says police budget cut request doesn’t affect ‘boots on the ground’

One of two Fort Erie representatives on regional council is taking the lead in telling the Niagara Regional Police (NRP) to trim its 2025 budget request.

On November 14, regional politicians approved, in principle, the NRP’s $213-million budget after directing the service to find savings to the tune of $3.65 million, which was recommended to come in the form of pushing back the salaries of 33 new officers to next July.

Chief Bill Fordy came to the region’s budget committee with an initial 15-per-cent increase, but with the changes, that was dwindled down to 13 per cent.

But at last Thursday’s regional council meeting, when the minutes for the budget meeting were up for consideration, Fort Erie Regional Councillor Tom Insinna asked that further savings be found, which he told Fort Erie Radio should be “at least” $1.067 million.

This reduction would come by not hiring a new deputy chief, a superintendent, and two inspectors, he told Fort Erie Radio this week.

His recommendation was approved by the majority of regional council, sending the budget back to the top brass at the NRP to do some more trimming.

“It doesn’t affect boots on the ground,” said Insinna, referring to Fordy’s position in his presentation that an ever-increasing workload for frontline officers has been a challenge in recent years.

The police board’s next meeting is Thursday, and Insinna said it is expected that regional politicians will be re-approached with a revised police budget on December 5.

Regional council has also reached out to the province to request that 5.7 per cent of the police budget be covered, equating to $10 million brought on by mandated changes ordered by the Ontario government.

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