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The Vancouver Police Board is set to vote on a budget of close to $285 million for policing services next year.

The police allocation accounts for 22 percent of the proposed $1.4 billion operating budget for the entire city in 2018.

Public safety, which covers police, and fire and rescue services, is the biggest component of the City of Vancouver’s planned operating budget, taking up 31 percent.

The police board chaired by Mayor Gregor Robertson will vote on the police budget Thursday (November 23).

In a report to the board, Deputy Chief Constable Steve Rai wrote that the proposed operating budget of nearly $285 million represents a 4.2 percent increase or $11.5 million over the 2017 budget.

“To achieve its vision of being, ‘The safest major city in Canada,’ and the priorities outlined in the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, it is essential that the VPD has adequate resources available,” Rai stated in his report.

According to Rai, the majority of the VPD budget or 84 percent is for salaries and benefits.

The budget includes more than $3.2 million for the hiring of 30 additional officers and 10 civilian members.

A sum of $700,000 is also allocated for a drug containment facility to handle evidence.

According to Rai, the VPD budget is projected to increase by around 3.8 percent in 2019. From 2020 to 2022, the police budget is expected to grow by an average of 2.2 percent per year.