Ottawa police warn of financial challenges with 2025 budget [Video]

The 2025 Ottawa Police Service’s budget will include a new Mounted Patrol Unit, the creation of a Parliamentary Precinct and hiring more officers, staff warn there will not be enough funding for “some strategic initiatives,” including body cameras for officers, as the service faces several challenges.

The Ottawa Police Service’s Board’s finance and audit committee will discuss the directions for the 2025 budget on Friday.

Council directed the service to draft the 2025 budget with a 2.9 per cent increase, along with a 1.5 per cent increase in taxes from growth in the assessment base. which would provide police with $15.3 million in new funding next year.  The committee was told a 5.6 per cent increase was needed to support all plans, which would have resulted in $24.8 million in new funding for the service.

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“While the service is prioritizing the improvement of service delivery to …