Londoners set to sound off on proposed police budget mega-hike

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The last chance looms for Londoners to sound off to city council about their proposed four-year municipal budget and there’s one clear priority for those who’ve already weighed in, in writing: the huge police budget.

A total of 47 letters have been submitted for the public meeting at city hall (4 p.m., Tuesday) and of those, 35 address the spending plan that will give London police an average of $168 million annually from 2024 to 2027, driving more than half of this year’s proposed 8.7 per cent property tax hike.

Here’s a sampling of the feedback awaiting politicians:

• “Shame on the city for prioritizing police services over the ongoing housing crisis and lack of resources and opportunities for our city,” writes resident Courtney McIntosh.
• “To be clear, I am not asking to ‘defund the police.’ I am asking that the City of London does not vote to increase (the tax rate) by five per cent to fund the militarization of this city instead of the resource that our community desperately needs,” Bernice Couto writes, a possible reference to police getting $492,000 for a second armoured vehicle.
• “For the safety of the whole community . . . we need housing, not guns, surveillance, or armoured vehicles,” writes Ruby Ross.
• “Increased police presence should not be the main focus of any growing city. Public transit, infrastructure, public services, social services, and affordable housing are also important for a growing city, yet all of those initiatives are being put by the wayside so that we can grow our police force,” writes Kate Sepi.
• “We obviously need a police force, most well-informed people wouldn’t argue with that, but time and time again it has been proven that larger police units and budgets do not reduce crime,” writes Ashley Miller.

None of the 35 citizen letters that reference the police budget support it as proposed. Several referenced a recent study of Canadian police, London included, which found no correlation between police spending and a lower crime rate.

During budget talks, there have been three failed attempts to pull money from the police budget for other projects, including a mental health worker at the Central library branch, sweeping and plowing of bike lanes and several housing programs.

The budget is expected to be finalized by city council this Thursday. And Ward 9 Coun. Anna Hopkins plans one last effort to cut five per cent from the police spending plan – which would amount to $4.9 million over four years saved.

Cuts could be appealed to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, but Hopkins said politicians sometimes have to “ask hard questions” about municipal spending.

Ward 6 Coun. Sam Trosow says opposition to the huge police budget increase – it marks a 28 per cent year-over-year increase, from $130.9 million in 2023 – suggests to him it could have been reduced.

“People want to see service improvements . . . they want the wait times reduced,” Trosow said. “That general level of support does not carry over to a lot of the equipment, particularly the higher tech equipment.”

Both in conversation with The Free Press and during budget debates, Morgan has said city council can’t dictate how the police department spends its money. Taking money from provincially mandated items such as a 911 system update also leaves the city more vulnerable to arbitration from the civilian commission, he has said.

LONDON CITY BUDGET: WHERE IT STANDS NOW

City politicians now have a proposed budget that includes an 8.7 per cent tax hike in 2024, which would add $286 to the property tax bill of the owner of an “average” London home – average being one assessed at $252,000. City council is technically approving a four-year budget that calls for annual average tax hikes of 8.7 per cent in 2024, 8.9 per cent in 2025, 5.8 per cent in 2026 and 6.8 per cent in 2027.

MAYOR’S BUDGET: HOW IT WORKS

This marks the first budget London city hall has crafted under Ontario’s new so-called strong mayor powers. It’s made the process very different as city staff and politicians work toward approving a $1.3-billion annual spending plan proposed by the mayor. Here’s how it all works:

• Mayor Josh Morgan submitted his budget Jan. 31 and council has 30 days to make amendments.
• Those amendments must be approved by a council majority by Feb. 29.
• The mayor has 10 days to veto any amendments.
• There’s then a 15-day period for council to override the veto with a two-thirds (10-vote) majority.
• The budget, and any surviving changes, will be approved without a final council vote.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

@jackmoulton65