The Moose Jaw Police Service is sitting on nearly $400,000 in total accumulated surplus money, most of which it expects to spend this year on collective agreement-related backpay.
The police service recorded a surplus of $229,202.20 last year, the result of under-spending in salaries and benefits because of unanticipated vacancies, according to a report presented during the recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting. The surplus could have been greater but was offset by higher costs for fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment and information technology maintenance.
Besides this surplus, the organization carried over a surplus from 2021 of $170,275.01. After subtracting $4,341.52 in losses from investments, the total accumulated surplus the police service has is $395,135.69.
The organization plans to spend “much” of that money this year to provide backpay to officers after the police service and the union reached a new collective bargaining agreement in December 2022, the report added.
It is city council that technically controls this surplus and has the final say in how it is spent, while it has historically directed the money into reserves, Police Chief Rick Bourassa said during the meeting. While the police service wants to use the money for contract-related backpay, council could say no to that decision.
The finance department at city hall will inform council about this surplus since that department manages the police service’s money, he continued. Council then usually makes a motion to direct that funding into reserves to pay any outstanding deficits.
“What I’m worried about is all of a sudden it (the surplus) gets lost and in two years from now, we’re saying, ‘What about that surplus from 2021?’” said Commissioner Doug Blanc. “I just want to make sure that it’s (informing council) done properly … and done correctly.”
After the meeting, Bourassa told the media that the police service carried over the 2021 surplus because the organization did not use the money in 2022. Since it wasn’t spent, the money will go into the reserve until needed.
Neither the organization nor the board is concerned that council could direct that total accumulated surplus funding into reserves instead of toward backpay to members, he continued. While council has its role to fill, the police agency will work with whatever decision those members make.
Monthly financial report
The police service began providing the board with a monthly update of its operating revenues and expenses late last year.
However, the organization has not provided a monthly update since February and likely won’t until April because the city’s finance department is implementing a new system that has prevented it from generating the monthly documents.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, April 6.
