The OPP contract has been renewed for Southgate with a big chunk of money having to be spent.
Deputy Mayor Brian Milne says it seemed like a take it or leave it approach by the contract renewal as it eventually cost Southgate just under 90 thousand dollars more for the year.
The total cost of the contract is 705 thousand dollars.
Milne says at the first presentation, before numbers were whittled away, the OPP made a presentation that basically said “take it or leave it”.
Milne says that in the original proposal the OPP wanted to increase the number of officers by 1, but the local commander understood it would be too expensive for this year, so the cost was to be deferred until next year.
Milne says they had little choice but to renew the contract — as they have only spoken “off the cuff” with West Grey about joining with their police force — but there hasn’t been enough time to look into the idea.
Milne says that means there is no choice but to hit Southgate with another increase in OPP.
Milne says an almost 200 thousand dollar increase in policing costs in over two years is a tough pill to swallow.