Vancouver Police Board wins appeal of city council’s 2021 budget decision

The Vancouver Police Board has won its appeal of a city council decision not to increase the department’s budget in 2021.

In December of 2021, council voted not to approve a proposed increase of $5.7 million. The board asked the province to review the decision, arguing the budget freeze was effectively a cut, and failed to account for the board’s legal obligations and inflationary increases. It also said the decision was made without analysis or risk assessment to public safety, and would result in hiring delays.

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Vancouver’s city manager says the city will have to allocate the money from the city’s reserves, since the 2022 budget has already been approved. Residents won’t see the impact of this decision until 2023.

“For the 2023 budget, permanent funding will be required to balance the budget, and staff will bring forward options as part of the 2023 budget process. As public safety costs are funded almost exclusively from property taxes, an increase to the VPD budget of $5.7 million would require a property tax increase of approximately 0.6 per cent,” said Paul Mochrie in a statement emailed to CityNews.

He also noted funding the Vancouver Police Department accounts for 21 per cent of the city’s overall budget.

BC gov’t approves appeal to restore $5.7M to VPD’s 2021 budget. The board had appealed after city council voted to cut the budget. “Since that time… a growing number of people tell us they just don’t feel as safe as they used to,” says @ChiefPalmer
BG: https://t.co/uIZrMWBdF8

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) March 15, 2022

Chief Constable Adam Palmer welcomed the decision, saying it will allow the Vancouver Police Department to better serve residents. He claims the city has been “gripped by an abundance of public safety challenges” since the budget decision was made.

“I am committed to ensuring everyone feels safe again, and I have every confidence that a fully-funded Vancouver Police Department can continue to combat the public safety challenges we face,” he said in a statement.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart issued a brief statement in response to the decision Monday evening.

“Today’s report dates back to a decision made by Vancouver City Council during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic when all departments were asked to do more with less,” he wrote.

“It is important to note that at no time did the Vancouver Police Department lack access to requested funds thanks to the City’s budget reserves. I am glad we finally have a decision after waiting for more than a year for this report.”

CityNews has reached out to the province for comment on the decision.