New numbers released by Winnipeg police show the service's budget is in the red.

A second-quarter report says a $6.5 million cost overrun could be looming. Revenue is down, in part, because fewer tickets are being issued from photo enforcement in school zones.

Another contributing factor is catching many off guard. The report says the police pension is short $3.7 million this year.

“We didn't see that coming," said Coun. Scott Gillingham.

"This was not budgeted for, nor in control of the service, and therefore will require an additional appropriation for 2016," writes the Winnipeg Police Service

READ MORE: Mayor, police board face off over budget

Gillingham said the ballooning police budget needs a long-term solution. He wants to explore the idea of removing overtime as a pensionable earning.

"My concern is whether or not, to what degree the ratepayers, the taxpayers of Winnipeg, can afford to pay these kinds of increases," said Gillingham

Earlier this year, police brass threatened layoffs over a budget standoff with the mayor and his inner circle. In the end, the service cut a body camera program and promised to find other savings.

Sources at city hall told CTV the pension issue is a problem, but the police union said that decades ago, the city used surplus funds from the pension, so the shortfall shouldn't come as a surprise.

"They've put themselves in this position and now they're complaining that they have to dig themselves out of that problem," said Winnipeg Police Association President Moe Sabourin.

Sabourin said he's willing sit down with the city before the current contract ends this year to discuss all of this, but he worries another budget battle over wages and benefits could be on the horizon, leading to service cuts.

"Response times are the worst in Canada and we do not need to take our foot off the gas right now. It is a more complex and dangerous profession than ever before," said Sabourin

The report also said police overtime is down this year, but it doesn’t include the last two summer months when call volumes are typically higher.