(File photo/panNOW News)

By Jaryn Vecchio

CITY BUDGET

Police and fire services in Prince Albert to get extra funding for 2022

Nov 18, 2021 | 2:50 PM

Prince Albert City Council has been busy the past couple of days setting up the city’s budget for next year.

Following deliberations this week, the city’s police service is receiving exactly what they asked for, around $18.3 million. This includes both the operating and capital budgets.

The budget is an increase from the $17.4 million budget approved by council for 2021.

About $515,000 comes from the multi-year proactive policing strategy council which starts in January through the base tax.

The additional funds will allow them to add three new positions next year including $110,000 for a new officer, $75,000 for an out of scope civilian intelligence analyst, and $76,800 for an Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) administrative assistant.

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An additional $67,200 will also be allocated to the ICE program.

The biggest increase for the police will be on salaries and benefits as they’ll be allocating nearly $1.2 million more. They’re also looking at an increase in revenue, which comes from different areas such as grants, and decreases in other expenses to help cover the rise.

The Prince Albert Fire Department is receiving over $7.8 million for its five branches: administration, fire fighting, prevention, fleet and equipment, and maintenance.

This is $23,000 less than what they asked for, but roughly $115,000 more than what they were given in 2021.

Each of the branches is seeing additional funds with the biggest increases for administration, fire fighting, and prevention happening to salaries and benefits.

Nearly $520,000 of the fleet and equipment budget is being put aside for a future firetruck. The City aims to buy a new vehicle every few years.

Some of these funds will also be used on maintaining the current trucks.

The Prince Albert mobile crisis unit, which provides emergency intervention services, will be getting $43,600.

This is the exact amount they’ve received from the city every year since 2016 except for 2017 when they were given over $44,000.

Nearly all the funding for its multi-million dollar budget comes from provincial grants.

Meanwhile, council is scheduled to meet Friday and potentially Saturday to continue setting up next year’s budget.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow