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Mattawa’s council encountered some serious sticker shock for next year’s OPP service – an increase of 21 per cent. That translates to an additional $113,923 for policing within the municipality, a rise Mattawa’s interim CAO Paul Laperriere called “ludicrous.”
For 2024, the police budget was earmarked for $531,047. Next year, that number is $644,970.
The difference amounts to “about five per cent of our tax levy,” Laperriere detailed, “some serious dollars.” He noted that recently the municipality has petitioned the province “to stop downloading costs” to municipalities, and “to cover costs such as policing.”
Nothing has come of that resolution yet, and Laperriere is “not holding much hope, because what can we really do in the end?” but pay the bill.
Councillor Garry Thibert expressed his disdain for the increase, emphasizing “We can’t afford this, we can’t afford to raise taxes in our community.” He reminded council that he’s been a councillor for 20 years, “and the same thing happens every year, increases in this and increase in that.”
“I’m frustrated, I don’t know what to do other than raise taxes,” Thibert continued. “What else can we do? We can’t do nothing, unless we open our mouths and start screaming at the top of our voice.”
He mentioned when the town’s high school was at risk of closing, “We marched up the streets and we raised hell.” The school remained open. “I’m not saying [the town’s hellraising] was the only reason" the school stayed open, "but at least we let our voices be known.”
“I’m not saying we should do that today,” Thibert said, “but maybe it’s something that we should do, maybe our taxpayers are frustrated too.”
Councillor Mathew Gardiner said he saw the writing on the wall when he heard the OPP recently ratified a new contract. That contract covers 2023 to 2026 with a 4.75 retroactive raise for the first year, followed by an increase of 4.5 per cent in the second year and 2.75 per cent raise in each of the last two years.
Gardiner questioned the value the community is receiving for the money. “I hear more and more from our constituents that there is less and less from the OPP in our community,” he said, adding “We don’t even have dedicated officers for our community.”
“It’s disappointing that we’re going to pay 21 per cent more, and probably get less than we get today,” Gardiner concluded.
See: OPP officers ratify four-year deal to become highest paid cops in Ontario
BayToday reached out to the OPP, and Erin Cranton of the Corporate Communications Bureau explained that the “average cost per property for 2024 is $399,” for service. “While this is the highest per property cost since the implementation of the OPP Billing Model in 2015, this cost continues to compare favourably to other police services in Ontario,” she added.
All municipalities “are paying the same base services cost per property, plus additional costs for Calls for Service, overtime, accommodations, cleaning services, prisoner transportation, court security and enhancements,” Cranton continued.
As for the increase, Cranton noted “Municipal policing costs increased in the 2025 Annual Billing Statements due to both an increase in OPP salaries and benefits that resulted from the ratification of the 2023-2026 OPPA Uniform and Civilian Agreements and a return to pre-pandemic workload levels. Salary and benefits account for roughly 90 per cent of OPP municipal policing costs.”
The OPP “recognizes there are concerns about the cost of policing services,” Cranton said. “Our communities deserve cost-effective policing services, and we remain committed to fiscal responsibility.”
Moreso, “The OPP continuously seeks efficiencies to ensure it provides the best possible service. Policing is an essential service that ensures the continued safety and security of Ontario’s communities.”
The OPP’s full billing model can be found on its website.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
