Dryden city council has agreed to defer passing the 2025 budget until policing costs have been finalized.
Right now, the city’s budget has an 11.2 percent increase if nothing is done.
Mayor Jack Harrison says their policing costs are the highest in the province.
“We’re at the point where our costs are going to cause a tax revolt in our community,” Harrison told city council at their open meeting this week.
“If you look at our situation, the average policing costs per property in Ontario is $350 dollars. We’re last year $1,400 and we’re going to $1,700.”
Harrison adds other communities in the region are also facing very high increases in police costs.
“It’s quite a bit high in northwestern Ontario. Our neighbours are at $600 to $800. We’re going to $1,700. I can tell council that is not sustainable for our community.”
Dryden has been told there will be some relief for their policing costs, but the province hasn’t said how much that will be.
