Cops get raise, media launches an attack
Did anyone ever consider finding new sources of revenue to support high quality services like education and public safety? Evidently not.
You could hear the enthusiasm in Jim Christie’s voice a couple months back as he announced that officers working for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would be getting an overdue raise of 8.55 percent in their next paycheck. Christie, the president of the OPP Association, noted that the pay hike came after a two year pay freeze the association voluntarily agreed to as a way to help easy the financial strain plaguing the Province and the 344 cities and towns the agency serves.
“As the only police service who works directly for the Province of Ontario, we have done our part to assist the Government with their 2010 strategy on cost containment, “ Christie noted. “In fact we were the first employee association to do so.”
But that sacrifice was all but forgotten as the media piled on after the pay hike was announced.
One headlined blared: “Municipalities held hostage by OPP pay raise.” Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara c omplained and said the pay increase will cost his community $320,000 more this year – a 2.9% increase on the property tax bill.
“I could have had a zero per cent tax increase this year,” McNamara complained. “The seniors, those on fixed pensions, are feeling the pinch the most. I’m not even enhancing the services in the community and my costs are increasing dramatically.”
Chris White, mayor of the Township of Guelph-Eramosa and warden of the County of Wellington, said the 8.55% pay jump works out to about $950,000 of a $1.2-million increase in OPP costs this year — or roughly half of an anticipated 2.2% property tax hike.
“Bottom line it goes on the levy — absolutely it comes from the taxpayers,” White said. “Frankly, as things currently stand, one of our only options would be to reduce the number of officers we’re bringing on board … that’s the one thing we can control.”
Did anyone ever consider finding new sources of revenue to support high quality services like education and public safety? Evidently not.
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