Town of Blackfalds disappointed with retroactive RCMP cost update

“Although the Town of Blackfalds greatly values its relationship with the RCMP and the service that they provide to our community, we are disappointed in the process that led us to this stage that many municipalities feel left us without a voice in a decision that greatly impacts our residents, as well as those RCMP officers that work within our area,” he said.

“The police who serve us have an increasingly difficult and dangerous job in an environment where there are some concerns of systemic problems and lack of transparency, making it even more important for them to build trust and cooperation with the public, and this negotiation, unfortunately, did little to help that growth. We will continue to build our good relationship at the community level with our RCMP detachment but will continue to advocate to the Federal government for more inclusion at the highest levels in the future.”

The FCM claims that local governments were not at the table during the budget negotiations and while cost estimates were provided to some municipalities, some turned out to be below the final agreement’s increase over six years, with retroactive pay going back to 2017.

READ: City of Red Deer to pay $6.3 million in retroactive RCMP costs

The town says their cost associated with these retroactive payments is expected to be $255,550.09.

Town officials say the decision is an example of a federal commitment that profoundly impacts municipalities, without municipalities being properly consulted or involved. They say municipal governments are paying a growing share of policing costs but cannot run deficits and have limited revenue tools.

The Town says they support the position reiterated by the FCM that municipalities to be actively involved in any future processes regarding contract policing, calling this recent decision “unacceptable”.

by rdnewsNOW Staff

Town of Blackfalds disappointed with retroactive RCMP cost update

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