The Alberta government announced a one-year freeze on an expected policing cost hike for rural and small municipalities.
Municipalities' share of policing bills was to increase by 39 per cent because of higher costs linked to RCMP collective bargaining agreements, said the province on Wednesday.
Since 2020, rural and small municipalities have been called on to pick up a share of their policing costs under the Policing Funding Regulation. It was phased in over three years, topping out at 30 per cent of costs in 2023.
With the regulation due to expire March 31, 2025, municipalities' share of policing costs would have increased by 39 per cent "with no improvement in policing services delivered," said Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis in a Wednesday statement.
"We know this is not acceptable for many municipalities. This cost freeze will give rural municipalities the stability and predictability they need, and it will allow for meaningful engagement between the province and municipalities on equitable support."
To freeze costs, the government is extending the Police Funding Regulation by one year to March 31, 2026.
The government says the new funding model introduced in 2020 led to a $235.4 million investment in rural policing over five years, adding 285 regular members and 244 civilian positions.
Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood said municipalities were not aware of the size of the increase coming their way, which he called an "extreme shock."
"We're paying a tremendous amount for policing already," said Wood, who was attending the Rural Municipalities of Alberta convention in Edmonton.
"I think the big thing is it's not affordable."
Municipalities are already facing a big infrastructure deficit, which was a main topic of conversation at this year's convention. While communities are seeing bigger bills for maintaining bridges, roads, water and wastewater systems, provincial government funding is falling.
"Paying for policing is putting an additional burden on many municipalities," he said.
Municipalities have also questioned whether they were getting the extra officers they were promised when the cost-sharing regulations kicked in a few years ago.
Wood said officers are doing a great job, but "the big thing is we want to make sure that if we're paying for police, we're getting the officers."
Delaying the increase in policing costs does not offer municipalities much comfort.
It is only a reprieve and it is unclear whether the potential increase will remain at 39 per cent or will be higher after another year of inflation and other cost increases, he said.
Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said during the freeze the province will undertake a "comprehensive review" of the police funding model with municipalities.
"During our review, we will carefully consider all factors to ensure we provide an updated funding model that is sustainable."
Lacombe County corporate services director Michael Minchin said they had an inkling that the expiry of the policing agreement would mean higher costs were coming, but until Wednesday had no solid numbers.
"It's been a concern for both urban and rural municipalities who pay under the provincial agreement what that increase would look like."
Lacombe County will pay about $1.3 million for policing this year. A 39 per cent increase would be over $500,000.
Minchin said any increase in policing costs will be on top of many other growing bills municipalities must pay.
"Like everybody, we're seeing increases across the board."
