A new radio tower and an updated outdoor firing range are two major infrastructure projects that the Moose Jaw Police Service plans to pursue in 2022.
The police service (MJPS) presented its 2022-26 capital budget during the recent meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners. The law enforcement agency plans to spend $254,500 next year, $75,000 in 2023, $77,500 in 2024, $80,000 in 2025 and $82,500 in 2026, for a total of $569,500.
Next year’s money is composed of regular funding of $72,500, with an additional request of $182,000 to fund the replacement of the radio tower and related infrastructure.
In its 2019 capital budget discussions, the police board determined that capital budget requests should be $65,000 for that year, increasing by $2,500 each year thereafter to 2026 to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet ongoing demands, a board report explained.
Police Chief Rick Bourassa said during the meeting that several upcoming and ongoing projects require funding.
These include making safety upgrades to the outdoor firing range next year — the indoor range was upgraded this year — followed by long-term projects of replacing the elevator, relocating the second-floor meeting room to a public area on the main level and building a contingency fund for unanticipated occurrences.
Acting board chair Commissioner Dawn Luhning pointed out that the MJPS has provided a five-year plan for the past several years and wondered if there were any major changes since 2019.
In response, Bourassa replied that the money for the radio tower was the big expense for next year, while a new elevator was included in the capital budget.
“We tend to not forecast too far out because we know that tomorrow can change,” he chuckled. “We have a pretty good idea of where we’re going, so this is our best guess of what we do require.”
The next Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 14.
