Prince George, BC – Prince George City Councillors have given tentative approval to all but one portion of the proposed 2013 budget…

Last night, Councillors voted unanimously in favour of two motions put forward by the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, Councillor Cameron Stolz, to defer the proposed Police Protection budget to Monday, February 25th, to allow City Staff to prepare a report – in consultation with RCMP Superintendent Eric Stubbs – examining the potential implications of approving a budget of $20.4-million dollars, rather than the proposed $21.6-million dollars.

Councillor Stolz emphasized the intent is not to scale back police services – they would be maintained at 2012 levels – but, instead, to look at whether the City is being too fiscally conservative in its budget projections.  Stolz points to surpluses being re-couped from the Police Protection budget over the past five years as an indication: 

Last year’s police services budget bylaw was for $21.55-million dollars, but the unaudited actual amount was $19.41-million dollars.

The surplus goes into the City’s general operating surplus fund, which currently sits at just under $11-million dollars.  The City’s Manager of Financial Planning, Kris Dalio, says that falls on the low end of the guidelines set by the City’s sustainable finance policy.  Based on its general operating fund, the surplus fund should be between $8.8-million dollars and approximately $27-million dollars.

But Councillor Stolz suggested the money could be re-directed to other areas of the city’s budget.  As Councillors threw their support behind the motions, they underscored that it was not about reducing RCMP services in the city. 

"What this is about, as I understand," said Councillor Dave Wilbur,  "Is tightening down on the risk-management ‘cushion’, making it less risky in the sense of keeping money as a cushion for any eventuality.  And, given the track record that’s been presented to us from 2008 to 2012, I think that there’s a possibility."

Councillor Murry Kraused echoed that it’s not about level of service, but about trying to find a creative way to find new dollars in the budget.

The City is contractually obligated to fund 128 full time RCMP positions, but, the local force is typically around 121 due to parental leaves, illness, and other staffing issues.