PENHOLD – There may soon be more police officers to fight rural crime in Central Alberta, but questions remain surrounding changes to the province’s new policing model.
The UCP government announced changes last Wednesday, a $286-million initiative in policing to help combat crime in rural and small communities, such as Penhold.
The province is expected to add 500 new RCMP positions, including 300 uniformed patrol officers and 200 civilian employees, who will undertake administrative and support roles.
“We knew this was coming. We’re not opposed to municipalities paying,” said Mike Yargeau, mayor of Penhold, whose community has never before paid for RCMP policing support. “The lack of communication has been kind of disappointing. Obviously, we did know we were going to pay (but) there’s still no details on what that means for Penhold residents."
Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer announced the new money is going into policing over a five-year period. Small and rural communities with populations under 5,000 will contribute 10 per cent of policing costs in 2020, 15 per cent in 2021, 20 per cent in 2022 and 30 per cent in 2023.
Yargeau said they know what it will cost the municipality for such changes, but once again few details have been advanced other than the cost will steadily increase over the first five years.
“We know that in Year 1 (2020) that number is $62,442 for the Town of Penhold,” said Yargeau, adding the town will see its first new policing invoice in the spring. “In Year 5 it’s just under $190,000.” In Year 2, Penhold is expected to pay $93,730, while in Year 3 it will rise to $124,883 and in years 4 and 5 increase again to $187,459.
Despite the announcement coming so late in the year, Yargeau said he doesn’t expect any immediate impacts for Penhold residents.
“At this point I’m still not anticipating any tax increases this year,” he said, noting the current budget process. “With the $62,000 this year I think we’ll be able to absorb that into some cost saving measures that we can do internally.”
He hopes increases to policing costs will translate into a greater RCMP presence in Penhold.
“I expect that because we’re paying more now that we are going to be getting that,” explained Yargeau. “We’re excited to see it and we’re hopeful that it’s going to mean good things for Penhold, but there’s still some information we need as far as what it means day to day for us.”
Coun. Mike Walsh also questioned the timing of the announcement and the impact for Penhold residents.
“If we’re paying for policing then I think we also expect some level of service to be provided to us,” said Walsh. “I think that’s where the details are not clear at this time.
“I know the provincial government has their target of 300 officers and the support staff, but when are those people starting, what does that mean for the Innisfail (RCMP) detachment and ultimately, for patrols or police officers in Penhold?" Walsh concluded.
