Municipalities across Ontario are facing a cost increase for provincial police services next year, including the Town of Arnprior, which will see a 21 per cent increase for the Ontario Provincial Police.
The budget for the OPP has skyrocketed, in part, because of a new policing contract and a return to pre-pandemic levels of calls for service.
“We had no forewarning on it” said Arnprior’s Mayor Lisa McGee.
“It’s going to mean a 3.4 per cent increase to our taxes without ever having had a discussion.”
McGee notes it means there will be less money to spend this year, and some service could take a hit to account for the rising costs. She says they will turn to the public to see where their priorities lie.
“This definitely won’t be a spend year.” McGee said. “It’s going to be a year where we look at any every efficiency we possibly …