Belleville Councillor (Ward 2 – Thurlow) Paul Carr says he is “shocked” at the increase in next year’s budget for the Belleville Police Service.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Belleville Police Services Board, they approved an operating budget for next year worth just over 33.5 million dollars.
That is an increase of close to 15% over this year’s budget (2025).
It will now be sent to council to be considered during the city’s budget discussions early next year.
Carr released the following statement on Thursday night.
“I was absolutely shocked to read in the local media that the Police Board approved a 2026 operating budget of $33,524,718.00 earlier today. That is an astounding 15% increase over the 2025 Budget. City Council will consider this funding request in February 2026 as part of Operating Budget meeting, but I want the residents that I represent to know where I stand now. Similar to the past two years, I oppose this increase which just alone would have a potential tax increase impact of 3% or more.
Belleville Police are proposing to spend significantly more money per person for policing in 2026 than the City of Kingston and even the City of Toronto. These spending increases are unsustainable when so many residents are focused on affordability.
What is also perplexing with this news is that I posed a question to the Police Board Chair during their deputation earlier this week during City Council’s Capital Budget meeting where I asked what the Police Capital Budget impact would be on their Operating Budget. I, along with City Council, were told that figure was not available. Yet, two days later the Police Board approves their operating budget which would have most definitely included those figures.
I have referenced news coverage of the Police Service Board operating budget because it was not included in their public agenda for today’s meeting nor was it posted to the Police Service Board’s webpage. Apparently, the Police Operating Budget was walked on to the agenda during today’s meeting without public notice and even now there is no public copy of the budget available.
The actions of the Police Board and the astronomical operating budget pose more questions than answers. Hopefully, I can get those answers when the Police Board makes a deputation to City Council in February 2026. Despite the lack of majority support of City Council, I stand by my idea that a value for money review is long overdue. Perhaps this budget may reconsider that idea.”
