Halifax Council has denied a $2,961,900 increase to the Halifax Regional Police budget for 2022-2023.
HRP Chief Dan Kinsella says they’d requested the increased funding to hire 26 new uniformed officers and ten new civilian workers.
He says they haven’t expanded the 530-member force since 2010, despite Halifax being among the fastest growing cities in the country.
Kinsella says they’re now pulling staff from support positions to fill patrol shifts and that’s unsustainable.
The budget committee discussed the recommendation from the Board of Police Commissioners, the civilian oversight group for HRP, to approve the increased spending Friday.
Some councillors were outright opposed to any kind of funding increase, some wanted to see a smaller increase, and others were happy to offer the full amount.
Councillor Tony Mancini proposed a new motion, to defer the request back to the BoPC and give the board direction to return with a new additional budget increase not more than $1,393,850.
After a tight vote, 9-8, council approved the updated motion.
Mayor Savage and Councillors Outhit, Hendsbee, Purdy, Mancini, Mason, Smith, Cleary, and Morse voted in favour.
Councillors Russell, Deagle-Gammon, Kent, Austin, Cuttell, Stoddard, Lovelace, and Blackburn voted against.
Staff advised council they must have a revised budget increase request from the BoPC by Mar. 15 to meet budget timeline targets.
