By Andrew de Souza

Police budget transparency “not good enough” says Atkinson

Dec 15, 2010 | 5:19 AM

The Prince Albert Police Service’s 2011 operating budget is being presented to council as a two-page document without any details and that is not acceptable says councillor Lee Atkinson.

“(We’re) not aware of what programs they’re doing or where there’s increases of funding to produce more initiatives that will be successful,” said Atkinson.

“It’s a completely blank slate and as a member of council, you think how (it is) responsible to pass an almost $13-million budget, but have no idea how most of that money’s being spent.”

The document provided to council requests an increase of $896,290, or approximately 7.7 per cent, to their $11.6-million budget, but does not provide any documentation about why the increase is needed or where it would go.

This is the second year the police budget has been presented in such a way, said Atkinson.

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

8h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

8h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

13h ago

In contrast, the 2009 and years prior, the police operating budget is a line-by-line document that includes everything from individual officer’s salaries, to office expenses.

“Last year, we saw nothing other than the total amount,” said Atkinson. “You could either vote for the total amount without knowing how they were spending, or reject it and I think that isn’t good enough.”

According to Prince Albert Police Service chief Dale McFee, the procedures are correct according to the law. He said it’s up to the city’s commission board, which includes councillors and members of the public, to figure out a budget and it’s up to council to approve the total figures.

“This is pretty common practice right across the province, rather than having people say what we need or don’t need, it’s the board’s authority to scrutinize that and, if palatable and if it’s a priority to the community, then the board would approve that and council would approve the overall number,” said McFee.

He said as the budget process continues, more information would be given to the public.

Atkinson said he wasn’t satisfied with answers he’d been provided and pointed to other municipalities that fully disclose police budgets in the province.

Council passed the budget proposal from the city’s police commission and it will be forwarded to the city’s budget committee.

adesouza@panow.com