Police being used as a 'scapegoat' in debate over Edmonton 7% tax increase: association

The debate over how much Edmonton taxpayers will have to fork over next year is heating up – with at least one city councillor pointing his finger at police, drawing a fiery response from the officer's union.

The debate over how much Edmonton taxpayers will have to fork over next year is heating up – with at least one city councillor pointing his finger at police, drawing a fiery response from the officer's union.

It was revealed last week that city administrators are proposing a seven per cent increase in 2024, up from the five per cent hike that was previously approved.

Of the additional 2.13 per cent, a total of 1.63 per cent would be for the police budget ($11.8 million) and to cover an arbitrated salary settlement for officers ($19.7 million).

"The majority of this tax increase is going to the police…This is a police tax increase," Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz told CTV News Edmonton.

"Enormous amounts of money are going to the police. There are fair questions to be asked, should it be? Should this be an area where the province is contributing more? Should this be an area where we're pressing the police service to find further efficiencies?"

Janz answered 'yes' to his latter question.

He argues it's not hard to see questionable expenses like armoured vehicles, helicopters, an airplane, 20 communications employees, layers of management, no layoffs and higher pay for police managers than others at the city.