HAMILTON BUDGET: Notice of Motion to have $213M police ask sent back for “further review”

Friday’s busy agenda at Hamilton Council will include budget submissions from Planning and Economic Development and Public Works as well as a notice of motion from Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch that the Hamilton Police take their controversial $213 million budget ask back to the Police Services Board for “further review.”

The budget request by police, a $19.8 million increase from last year, has already been the subject of nearly a hundred public delegations in the council chambers demanding the money be allocated elsewhere, such as affordable housing initiatives.

In his notice of motion, Kroetsch cited a Mayor’s Directive from August 31 that stated the City of Hamilton “must reduce the burden on residential property taxes” and ensure that “all redundancies and efficiencies have been identified and addressed” before continued funding is approved.

The budget request from Hamilton Police represents more than 10 per cent of the entire city budget and Kroetsch’s motion asked that the Police Services Board report back with an amended budget – “outlining any additional redundancies and efficiencies” – by February 15.

The Planning & Economic Development department is asking for $34.88 million this year – up from $33.3 million in 2023 – while Public Works will present a hefty $321.36 million budget, an increase of nearly $27 million from last year.