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This article was published 1/12/2017 (1026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A near-invisible increase to the police operating budget — much of which will be used to service debt connected to construction of the new downtown headquarters — will threaten Winnipeggers' safety next year, the union representing rank-and-file officers is warning.

Winnipeg Police Association president Moe Sabourin sounded the alarm Friday after the Winnipeg Police Board agreed to recommend the WPS request for a 1.2 per cent increase, to $291 million.

"This budget is not adequate to provide the services which Winnipeggers expect; it's very disappointing," he said, adding board members admitted the "stand-pat" financial plan will put residents at risk.

"Calls for service are increasing. Violent crime is increasing. Fifteen positions have already been cut. Training has been reduced. And in this environment we are looking at a budget for 2018 that will leave our members even further behind as our proactive initiatives are cut away.

"Policing is a stressful job. This budget is placing even more stress on officers."

Members of the police board noted that a big chunk of the operating budget is spent on debt charges related to the expense of transforming the onetime Canada Post warehouse and subsequent cost overruns.

"It is alarming to see the consequences of error of capital projects on the (operating) budget," board chairman David Asper said. "The citizens can't afford to see it happen again. It is gobbling up non-capital resources.

"This can't happen again."

Coun. Ross Eadie, who voted against the budget, said he can't support it because it wasn't driven by the needs of police and policing, but by a budget target imposed by Mayor Brian Bowman.

"We're driven into this situation," Eadie said. "What it comes down to is the mayor expects a 1.2 per cent increase and that's what it is."

The board was previously told police were looking at a 1.6 per cent increase, but Chief Danny Smyth said civic finance officials were able to reduce the amount by consolidating capital and operating costs for a proposed North End Police Station and a new evidence-storage facility.

The budget now goes to the civic finance committee on its way to final approval by city council.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca