By Sheldon Spackman

Funding Review

Police grants funding review causing uncertainty for Lacombe

Aug 16, 2019 | 9:44 AM

A review of police funding grants by the Alberta government is creating concern and uncertainty for municipalities across the province, including the City of Lacombe.

Council learned this week of a letter from the province to Alberta communities with a population of over 5,000 that have their own police force that only 50 per cent of 2019-2020 grants which were previously approved will be sent.

According to the letter sent by the Justice and Solicitor General’s Office, the other 50 per cent of the funding is subject to the government’s formal budget to be finalized this fall.

For Lacombe, officials say that means the $404,456 budgeted for in 2019-2020 will now be $202,228, with the balance to be determined in the fall.

A breakdown of what the City of Lacombe currently receives for its policing costs indicates a Municipal Policing Assistance Grant (MPAG) of $304,456 which is calculated on a base payment of $200,000 and $8.00 per capita.

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City officials say that funding helps to ensure adequate and effective policing and policing oversight is in place, in addition to helping with the implementation of provincial policing initiatives to enhance policing services.

A second grant, the Police Officer Grant (POG) was created to add 300 police officers to municipalities across the province to promote safe and secure communities and help reduce crime.

Officials say the City of Lacombe receives $100,000 of funding each year to help offset the cost of one police officer position through that grant program.

On Monday, council learned the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) has since sent a letter in response to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General expressing the concern of its members regarding the policing grant review process.

The AUMA is also noted as continuing in its efforts to advocate for a more equitable police funding model than what is currently in place.

Officials say if the full police grant funding is not received, the Lacombe Police budget will be in deficit, information that has now been shared with the Lacombe Police Commission.