Councillors weigh no vote on Ottawa police budget

A coterie of Ottawa city councillorscouldsignal their disapproval over the way police plan to distribute their resources by voting against the Ottawa Police Service's budget Wednesday.

It boils down to a question of confidence over whether this budget can tackle the policing issues we have today.- Coun. Rick Chiarelli

While the rare stand would be unlikely to hinder the police budget's passage, it would send an unmistakable message to both the force and the police services board, and could turn into the most contentious portion of Wednesday's deliberations over the city's $4-billion combined budget.

Several councillors made their feelings known during presentations to the board during budget deliberations in November. They demanded police do more to address the growing number of homicides, enforce speed limits and maintain community policing standards.

Police budget 'full of risk': Deans

Coun. Diane Deans told the board the police budget was "full of risk" and "unachievable."

Coun. Riley Brockingtonis among those considering voting to reject the police budget Wednesday over what he calls "red flags" in the spending plan.

Brockingtonbelieves police have underestimated the cost ofpolicing 2017 events, pegged at $1.5 million, as well as overtime costs.

Brockingtonsaid he's not advocating police spend more than the$320.2 million they've budgeted, but believes they could redistribute the funding to target areas of concern.

"It boils down to a question of confidence over whether this budget can tackle the policing issues we have today," said Coun.RickChiarelli.

Few changes expected

The rest of the city budget is expected to pass with few changes from the draft versions already tabled.

New initiatives in the 2017 budget include anew low-income transit pass, the restoration of a sustainability fund for social services agencies, and a $250,000 grant to the Great Canadian Theatre Companyso it can deal with its debt.

• Transit Commission sticks to EquiPass price amid calls for lower fare
• Festivals, disability support group call for budget boost in 2017
• School transit authority revisiting student passes over fare hike

Some councillors remain concerned the city is failing to maintain infrastructure, including city parks, and have even raised the idea of an infrastructure levy.

Wednesday's budget meeting is council's final meeting of the year.