The Saint John Police Force headquarters, located at One Peel Plaza. (Staff photo)
Several civilian positions are being eliminated by Saint John police as part of more than $900,000 in budget cuts.
But the city’s police chief says they were able to balance the books without any major impacts on frontline policing.
The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners met virtually Wednesday night to approve the force’s $24.3 million operating budget for 2021.
City council cut the force’s budget by $1.3 million, or five per cent, over 2020 to help address the city’s $10-million structural deficit.
“We’re maintaining the number of resources that we have on duty today,” Chief Stephan Drolet told commissioners during the meeting, which lasted less than 20 minutes. “As far as the frontline goes and the resources go, we’re still OK.”
“To me, that’s a huge accomplishment because I was worried at the beginning … with 86 per cent of your budget being in salaries, when you’ve got a five per cent cut, it is significant.”
Assistant comptroller Craig Lavigne gave a presentation outlining how the force was able to reduce its operating budget by $1.3 million.
Lavigne said a big chunk of the reduction came from salaries and benefits, which were cut by more than $944,000.
“We had elimination of a couple of civilian management positions, we have a sergeant position being converted into a civilian position, as well as multiple retirements of city staff,” said Lavigne.
Lavigne said the force has also begun sharing human resource and finance services with the city to cut costs.
The force will also get $300,000 in additional revenue through the integrated mobile crisis response team. Two officers have been seconded for the project and are being paid by the Department of Health.
Despite a reduction of civilian and senior staff, Drolet said they plan to hire six new cadets in the first quarter of 2021 to replace the retired senior staff. He said this is possible because the cadets are paid less during the first few years of their career.
Lavigne also highlighted a number of “operating budget risks” for 2021 and beyond, which include an expired contract with the Saint John Police Association and a contract with CUPE Local 486 which is set to expire in 2021.
“The city’s tax assessment growth in 2021 was only 0.12 per cent, so the city just will not have the financial ability to increase costs above tax growth,” said Lavigne.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will also continue into the new year, he said.
Lavigne said the force plans to complete and implement its strategic plan in 2021, and finish its five-year operating and capital budget forecast.
It will also continue to focus on finding operational efficiencies, eliminating non-core policing functions, and exploring more opportunities for shared services with the city, he said.
A copy of the budget will be sent to Common Council.
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