Hawkesbury council accepted a recommendation from administration to approve the new police services contract proposal during its January 12 session. The new cost for police services will now become part of the 2023 municipal budget discussions this month though Mayor Robert Lefebvre noted during a phone interview that it is not possible yet to say how the new police services contract will affect this year’s budget or any possible property tax increase.
“What we will have is our first ‘snapshot’ of the budget process,” he said, adding that council meets January 18 and 19 with administration and department directors to review operations and capital projects cost estimates included in the preliminary budget draft report.
The current two-year contract between the town and the OPP ended after December 31 2022. The OPP has continued to provide police services under the terms of the old contract until the new one was approved with the municipality.
Provincial guidelines for OPP service contracts now require a minimum three-year service period as part of the details of any new contract. Service terms for a contract can range from three years to six years, depending on the preference of the municipality.
Hawkesbury council accepted administration’s recommendation for a three-year term for the new contract between the municipality and the OPP. The cost of police services for the 2023 portion of the new contract will be $2,942,797.
Council approved Bylaw 5-2023, authorizing a new three-year contract with the OPP.
