Increased police funding gets support

Ambassador Watch Program gets full support

The Lethbridge Police Service will be enhancing its operations in 2019. That’s if Wednesday’s version of the operating budget gets fully approved. Voting began Wednesday afternoon as Lethbridge City Council, meeting as Finance Committee this week, made supports to include increased funding to LPS for special constables/community peace officers (CPO) and the Ambassador Watch Program with a check-in in two years, for its operating budget.

Mayor Chris Spearman cited social issues, community support and citizen feedback in his reasoning — and that it was “appropriate to fund it at this time.”

“This is probably the most high-profile issue in the community,” he said during debate, referring to perception of safety in Lethbridge. “We do want people to feel safe in our city. The right thing to do is provide more visibility,”

Finance Committee voted 7-2 in favour, with Coun. Joe Mauro and Coun. Belinda Crowson against, of approving $1.66 million in 2019 and varying levels moving forward, through taxation, existing savings and the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR), for the CPO.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, 15 of the 97 initiatives proposed for the 2019 to 2022 City of Lethbridge operating budget had been voted on.

In the non Lethbridge Police Service related areas, here is a breakdown:

• Broadband strategy, to explore the opportunity and potential barriers to implementing strategy. An ask of Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR) one-time allocation of $75,000 in 2019. Coun. Belinda Crowson put forward, but it was defeated.

• Energy efficiency master plan and strategy, $300,000 through one-time MRSR allocation. Passed in 5-4 vote.

• $5,000 per year for four years for Youth Advisory Council. Passed unanimously as MRSR one-time allocation.

• Legislative officer for city council, through MRSR at $23,200 in 2019 and up to $93,000 in 2020 and 2021 had a 7-2 vote against.

• Implementation of governance review recommendations, ask of MRSR of $250,000 in 2020 then amended to open and effective government carry-over funds. Carried 7-2.

Other initiatives presented Wednesday:

• Safe and resilient community for digital threats.

• Environment Lethbridge funding through a MRSR onetime allocation, or potential transition of roles.

• Network technician FTE, ask through taxation and overhead charges from utilities, fleet and land of between $95,700 in 2019 and $101,600 in 2022.

• Information management implementation and support.

• Pilot project to mitigate the feral cat problem, funding ask of $10,000 per year for four years through taxation.

• Non-veterinary funding for animal rescue.

• Yates Theatre management and programming, MRSR onetime allocation of $85,000 per year for four years.

• Proposal on citizen assembly on a ward system and transition to a ward system, one-time allocations of $75,000 in 2019 for part one and $125,000 in 2020 for part two (if part one is approved).

• Ombudsman, funded through taxation and overhead charges in 2020, 2021, 2022 for $25,000 per year.

• Income tax adjustment, through taxation and overhead charges, to ensure mayor and council’s net pay is maintained due to a change in income tax levels effective Jan. 1, 2019.

• Proposal for four full-time councillors or all full-time councillors, at varying levels of taxation and overhead charges, depending on potential implementation timeline.

• Proposal for optional pension plan for members of city council, at varying levels of taxation and overhead charges depending on potential approval structure.

Follow @NKuhlHerald on Twitter