The Moose Jaw Police Service plans to spend over $2 million during the next five years through its equipment reserve budget, which includes nearly $600,000 for smaller items like computers.
The 2024-28 equipment reserve budget is based on the depreciation of inventory items, with the organization funding amortized amounts annually as an operating expense, according to a report presented during the recent Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.
The budget lists equipment that is fully amortized, due for replacement or new to inventory this year.
In a separate email, a police spokesman said the organization gives each item a replacement value and a lifespan value, while depreciation is the replacement value divided by the lifespan value.
Small equipment
The police service requires $96,362 for small equipment purchases this year, while it requires $112,303 next year, $198,142 in 2026, $104,374 in 2027 and $84,989 in 2028, for a total of $596,170, the report says.
The amount of money available from depreciation is $576,270, while $19,900 will come from the control account, which combines to form the five-year total.
Some small items the agency plans to purchase this year include an iPad, cabinets, workstations, desks, a field sobriety test machine, magnetic card readers, tasers, thermal printers, chairs, countertops, body armour, teleconference equipment and a ballistic shield.
The report indicated that the total depreciation value of all small equipment items over the five years will be $112,516.
Major equipment
The agency plans to spend $99,700 this year to purchase five major items, the report shows.
This includes Versaterm hardware for $14,700, two forensic drying cabinets worth $22,500 each or $45,000 total, five mobile radar units for $6,000 each or $30,000 total, and a multi-function printer for $10,000.
Meanwhile, the police service plans to spend $330,100 next year on nine items, such as vehicles, workstations, software and a digital scanner.
In 2026, the organization plans to spend $129,000 on four items, $350,000 on five items in 2027 and $667,748 in 2028 on 14 items, with the largest purchases that year being an indoor firing range, enhancements to the Police and Crisis Team (PACT) and several vehicles.
Therefore, the total amount the police service requires for major and minor equipment purchases is $196,062 this year, $442,403 next year, $327,142 in 2026, $454,374 in 2027 and $752,737 in 2028, for a total of $2,172,718.
Also, the organization expects to have $2,160,559 in available funding from depreciation, with $12,159 to come from a control account to top up the purchase requirements.
The report indicated that the total depreciation value of all the major equipment items over the five years will be $293,419.
Uncompleted works
The equipment reserve budget report lists 17 major items worth $1,221,627 this year as “uncompleted works,” which, according to police, are items the organization has yet to purchase, have not arrived or haven’t needed to be replaced.
“We must carry those items and the money associated with them over each year to be able to confirm that those funds are available for those items,” the spokesman said.
Some major items include an intoxilyzer, Versaterm software, a server, a prisoner van, building video security for the cells, vehicles, in-car video units, and a motorcycle.
The report added that there is $207,643 worth of small equipment items on the uncompleted works list, which brings the total amount to $1,429,270.
The next police board meeting is Wednesday, March 13.
