(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)
April 15, 2023 - 11:30 AM
After the federal budget was tabled earlier this week, officials from the Town of Osoyoos were disappointed to find out a request to help with policing costs was denied.
Before the budget was introduced, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities requested that the federal government pay the retroactive costs associated with a collective bargaining agreement involving the RCMP. But on April 11 it was “confirmed” that Osoyoos – like every Canadian municipality that counts on the RCMP – is expected to cover the costs, according to a media release from the Town.
The retroactive costs amounted to $157,687.29 in Osoyoos, the Town claims.
“Council and the Town’s administration are frustrated by the decision of the federal government to download these expenses to local municipalities who have limited ability to generate revenue for expenses,” Mayor McKortoff said in the release.
"We appreciate the hard work and dedicated service that our local RCMP detachment provides to the residents and visitors of Osoyoos. Our frustration with the federal government funding decision is not at all directed at our local detachment.”
The release also says municipalities were not properly consulted on the matter.
“Unfortunately, this bill will, in effect, wipe out Council’s municipal sustainability fund initiative and will result in larger tax increases in the future,” Osoyoos CAO Rod Risling said in the release.
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