OPP costs increase significantly for SDG counties, province

On Monday, October 21st, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) annual billing statement for 2025 came as a surprise to Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) United Counties (SDG) council members, as the fees associated with police services increased by 13.19 percent compared to the budget of 2024. amount. A year-end adjustment amount was added to the 2025 annual statement for SDG and will increase OPP costs by 20.40 percent, or an additional $2,036,153.

Projected 2025 costs for police services will now cost SDG approximately $11,297,878, excluding any additional year-end adjustments for 2024 and beyond.

Total 2024 costs for the SDGs were initially budgeted at approximately $9 million. However, year-end 2023 adjustments showed an added cost of $719,316. The 2023 adjustment costs were included in the 2025 billing statement provided by the OPP, bringing the annual total to $12,017,195.

Councilor Steve Densham found it difficult to understand such an increase from one year to the next: “What I find difficult to understand is what the driver is in the numbers. They have identified a 5% increase in salaries, but this does not add up to 21%.

Council was informed at the October 21st meeting that drastic increases in OPP costs would be expected by 2025 and beyond. The report presented to the council also highlighted that the increases were felt across the province and did not just affect ODS. A lack of police resources, officers on leave or leave, and officers working overtime to meet the needs of the region contributed to the additional costs billed to counties.

“We’re very much in the dark about these kinds of things. When it comes to (police) budgets, we don’t have a say,” Warden Jamie MacDonald told the council.

Frustration and concern were also expressed by other council members as a similar year-end adjustment deficit was likely to occur year after year.

“If this is something that we expect to increase year on year, I think it would be wise to start having those conversations and see if there are alternative options. It’s hard to negotiate when you’re the smaller party and they know there are no other options available ”, commented Councilor Andrew Guindon.

He further suggested that it might be a good idea to open a dialogue with Cornwall Council or elsewhere to see if there was any potential for cost savings. The city of Cornwall has a municipal police service.

The financial impact of the increase in police services will impact the 2025 budget, adding $1,403,128, or a 2.41 percent rate increase. The cost per residential and/or commercial property would be $354.30 by 2025.

Councilor Densham concluded: “We’re looking at another deficit for years to come and what we want to do is get on the right track. We want to recognize what the real cost is.” A webinar to gather more information on the OPP budget and financial impacts is scheduled for a later date and further updates will be presented to council after that.

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