The Moose Jaw Police Service has an operating budget of nearly $13 million this year, and as of June, it had spent just over $5 million.
The police service presented a monthly operating budget update during the July 12 Board of Police Commissioners meeting. The document showed the organization has budgeted over $12.7 million in expenses this year and more than $1.5 million in revenues, leaving a net budget of $11.16 million.
From January to June, the police service spent $5.1 million, representing 40.1 per cent of its total expenses. Meanwhile, it took in $326,937 in revenues, representing 20.8 per cent of projected revenues.
Overall, the net budget expended so far was $4.78 million, representing 20.53 per cent of the total budget.
Police Chief Rick Bourassa explained that not all expenses are spent equally each month because some larger items come out at different times of the year. While nearly 60 per cent of the operating budget remains, reserve contributions and payments for financial services have yet to be expended.
“But so far, we’re tracking well this year,” he said.
No line item is cause for concern, although the organization does expect to be over budget for its clothing because it costs about $20,000 to outfit each officer, Bourassa continued. However, the police service will cover that higher expense by pulling money from other areas that are under budget.
Meanwhile, expenses for vehicles and fuel are running “pretty hot,” and the agency is managing those areas as best it can, although there is not much it can do about them, he said. The police service is watching those areas and expects to be over budget in those areas.
“One of the issues is obtaining new vehicles. We’re having a hard time (acquiring such equipment),” remarked Bourassa. “We’re on a waitlist as everybody else in the world is for new vehicles, so we’re actually running a few vehicles short right now … .
“We’ll budget accordingly for next year, (but) who knows how far off we’ll be on that one by the time next year comes around. We’ll keep an eye on that and keep the board updated.”
Expense items
The Moose Jaw Police Service has budgeted for 31 expense items in this year’s budget. Some areas include:
- Salaries: $8.8 million budgeted / $3.5 million spent
- Education/training: $60,000 budgeted / $32,849.51 spent
- General repairs: $75,000 budgeted / $47,134.37 spent
- Employee benefits: $1.3 million budgeted / $629,119.24 spent
- Computer software: $290,000 budgeted / $178,839.36 spent
- Clothing: $95,000 budgeted / $52,632.50 spent
- Vehicle maintenance: $220,000 budgeted / $135,157.67 spent
- Legal fees: $150,000 budgeted / $71,984.07 expended
- Prisoner meals: $4,000 budgeted / $2,135.37 spent
Revenue items
Some revenue areas include:
- Policing services: $220,000 budgeted / $91,943 received
- Unclaimed/seized: $1,000 budgeted / $2,039 received
- Victim services: $87,813 budgeted / $21,953 received
- Provincial grants: $800,000 budgeted / $159,422 received
- Alarm response false alarms: $8,000 budgeted / $4,709 received
- Contractual revenues with City of Moose Jaw: $215,000 budgeted / $0 received
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, Aug. 11.
