Police Funding Model raises cost and fairness concerns

Municipalities with populations under 5,000 are subject to the Police Funding Model (PFM). We invited these members to an online session to provide municipal elected officials and senior administrative staff with information regarding the technical design and implementation of the PFM. 

85 representatives joined us and our special guests Deputy Minister Justin Krikler and Public Safety and Emergency Services staff online on the evening of October 28. After a presentation on the technical design and implementation of the PFM, we opened the floor to questions and have summarized them below. 

Affordability and magnitude of cost increases: Municipalities are concerned about significant projected increases in policing costs, particularly for small communities with limited tax bases. Participants questioned the overall growth in provincial/municipal policing costs, what is driving the increases, and whether municipalities can realistically absorb them. 

Fairness and transparency of the formula: There was strong interest in understanding exactly how the model works, including the modifiers applied to individual municipalities, the calculation of front-line costs and vacancy rates, and how each municipality’s contribution compares with others. 

Concerns with using occurrences/calls for service as a cost driver: Participants questioned what qualifies as an occurrence, how multiple or delayed calls are treated, and whether municipalities could be charged even when the RCMP does not respond. There was also concern that linking costs to reported crime could inadvertently discourage reporting. 

Paying for policing demand generated outside the municipality: Several communities questioned whether they would bear costs associated with First Nations communities, border crossings, tourists, neighbouring municipalities, seasonal populations, or large temporary workforces, rather than demand generated by their own residents. 

Recognition of actual service levels and municipal policing investments: Municipalities questioned whether the formula adequately reflects RCMP vacancies, limited police presence, and response times. Several argued that communities employing Community Peace Officers should receive recognition or a credit because they are already funding resources that respond to local incidents and reduce demands on the RCMP. 

Broader concern about municipal responsibility for policing: Some comments challenged the underlying shift of policing costs toward municipalities, particularly smaller communities, and questioned the Province’s responsibility for rural and provincial policing. Overall, the comments suggest municipalities want the model to better connect what they pay with the policing service they actually receive. 

There were far more questions asked than could be answered in time, so we have forwarded the outstanding questions to Public Safety and Emergency Services staff and they will work on putting together a package with responses, which we will then share.