By paNOW Staff

Police finds savings, warn of future challenges

Apr 26, 2017 | 6:00 AM

Prince Albert Police said they have found $200,000 in savings in their 2017 budget, but core services could take a hit next year unless their financial situation improves.

The police department’s search for savings began when the city realized their provincial funding was going to be $2 million less than they had anticipated. The police service was asked to begin looking for ways to save earlier this month, and on Monday Chief Troy Cooper discussed options with the city’s Board of Police Commissioners.

In a statement issued yesterday, Cooper said the department has found the money through strategic staffing decisions, but a more sustainable solution will need to be found before next year.

“We have experienced some savings through unplanned vacancies and temporary officer secondments, which in the short-term will cover this budget shortfall,” Chief Troy Cooper said in a statement issued today. “We believe core services and salaried positions will not be significantly impacted.”

Cooper called the vacancies and secondments a “temporary bridge” which will serve to cover shortfalls until the end of the year, but noted a close examination of core programs and services provided by the police service will need to be done before 2018. Asking the department to find any more savings, he said, could have a tangible impact on public safety.

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“Our core resource and service that we provide to the public is people,” Cooper said. “Asking us to cut budgets further – for a police service that is one of the most active in the province – while maintaining public safety – will be extremely challenging.”

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