There was a very interesting article in the London Free Press earlier this week about the debate between the London Police Services Board and London City Council on the police services budget.
This is a great opportunity to talk about how the Toronto Police Service is funded.
The legislative authority for the budget process is found under section 19 of the Police Services Act. You will see that in establishing the police budget, Council does not have the authority to approve or disapprove specific items in the estimates.
Responsibility for the Toronto Police Services budget rests with the Board. The Chief submits an operating budget and a capital budget to the Board. Over a series of meetings, the Board’s budget sub-committee undertakes an in-depth review of the budget. A draft budget is then provided to the public for comment, following which, a final budget is to the entire Board for approval. It is the practice of the Toronto Police Services Board to make as many of the details of the budget available to the public as possible. (2008 TPSB Budget Overview and 2008 TPS Budget Overview)
A Board approved budget is then presented to the Budget Committee of Council by the Board, assisted by the Chief. The Budget Committee reviews the budget, asks questions and can make recommendations for change to the overall budget. Neither Council nor its committees can make changes to specific line items in the budget. Following consideration at the Committee stage,, the budget is presented to Council which ultimately votes to approve it.
As you will see from the Police Services Act subsection 39(5), “If the board is not satisfied that the budget established for it by the council is sufficient to maintain an adequate number of police officers or other employees of the police force or to provide the police force with adequate equipment or facilities, the board may request that the Commission [Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services] determine the question and the Commission, shall, after a hearing, do so.”
This is a great opportunity to talk about how the Toronto Police Service is funded.
The legislative authority for the budget process is found under section 19 of the Police Services Act. You will see that in establishing the police budget, Council does not have the authority to approve or disapprove specific items in the estimates.
Responsibility for the Toronto Police Services budget rests with the Board. The Chief submits an operating budget and a capital budget to the Board. Over a series of meetings, the Board’s budget sub-committee undertakes an in-depth review of the budget. A draft budget is then provided to the public for comment, following which, a final budget is to the entire Board for approval. It is the practice of the Toronto Police Services Board to make as many of the details of the budget available to the public as possible. (2008 TPSB Budget Overview and 2008 TPS Budget Overview)
A Board approved budget is then presented to the Budget Committee of Council by the Board, assisted by the Chief. The Budget Committee reviews the budget, asks questions and can make recommendations for change to the overall budget. Neither Council nor its committees can make changes to specific line items in the budget. Following consideration at the Committee stage,, the budget is presented to Council which ultimately votes to approve it.
As you will see from the Police Services Act subsection 39(5), “If the board is not satisfied that the budget established for it by the council is sufficient to maintain an adequate number of police officers or other employees of the police force or to provide the police force with adequate equipment or facilities, the board may request that the Commission [Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services] determine the question and the Commission, shall, after a hearing, do so.”
