Equitable Funding for Policing Services
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association urge the provincial government to develop and adopt a funding formula that is fair and equitable between urban municipalities, municipal districts and counties, and allows all local governments to continue to meet the needs of their residents.
WHEREAS under the Police Act urban municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 are responsible for 70 per cent of the cost of policing their communities;
WHEREAS under the same legislation municipal districts and counties receive service from the RCMP at no cost, regardless of population;
WHEREAS this funding arrangement is inconsistent with the principles of intermunicipal equity and fairness and places an unreasonable burden on the residential and commercial tax payers in urban municipalities; and
WHEREAS previous efforts to address this issue have met with limited success.
Justice and Solicitor General - Oct. 30/12
Minister stated that he is in favour of a fair funding model for policing costs and will continue to work with municipal stakeholders to ensure that any new police costing model meets the needs of Albertans and addresses the concerns of all municipal governments.
Nov. 7/12 - AUMA Executive meeting with the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
The Minister agreed a new funding model is important but did not commit to a process and timeline. Further, the Minister indicated he would not be able to address the Municipal Police Assistance Grant funding issue until the Province solves its deficit.
Dec. 5/12 – CEO met with the Deputy Minister of Solicitor General
The Deputy Minister indicated that the ministry had submitted a request for the government’s Operations Committee to approve consultation on a new funding model and had been directed to seek support from Rural Caucus.
May 28/13- AUMA Executive meeting with the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
Minister committee to begin consultations with municipalities this fall.
AUMA considers this response.