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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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23 September 2013 |
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TO:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT: |
2014 BUDGET – PROGRESS REPORT
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RECOMMENDATION
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
Section 39 of the Police Services Act requires the Ottawa Police Services Board to approve annual budget allocations for the Ottawa Police Service to maintain the Police Service and provide it with equipment and facilities. In conjunction with the OPS Business Plan and other strategic planning documents, the annual budget review and approval process enables the Board to set its priorities and provide direction to management. The resulting approved budget funds service levels, provides the authority to proceed with key operational projects and puts in place the necessary financial resources to carry out the 2014 work plan.
Council has provided budget guidelines to the Board on both the target and the timetable for the 2014 Budget.
At its June 24th meeting the Board approved the following recommendations;
1. Direct staff to prepare the 2014 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets with a tax rate increase of less than 2%.
2. Approve the 2014 Budget Review and Approval Timetable.
Both recommendations conformed to Council’s request and they have guided staff’s work this summer.
DISCUSSION
The schedule in Table 1 provides the key dates for the tabling, public consultation, consideration and approval of the Board’s 2014 budget in accordance with the direction of the Board on 24 June 2013. To date, no changes have been made to the schedule. Staff will table the draft budget document with the Board at a special meeting on 23 October 2013. Staff will attend the consultation sessions sponsored by the City in November to gain feedback on the budget proposal. Public delegations, Board consideration, review and approval is scheduled for the Board’s regular meeting on 25 November 2013. Council will consider the Board’s recommended budget on 27 November 2013.
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Milestone |
Date |
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OPS Board Regular Meeting: Approval of Budget Timetable |
24 June |
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OPS Board Regular Meeting: 2014 Budget – Progress Report |
23 September |
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OPS Board Special Meeting, City Council Special Meeting: Tabling of Draft 2014 Budget |
23 October |
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Public Consultation Sessions |
Week of 28 Oct – Nov 1 (TBD) |
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OPS Board Regular Meeting: Public Delegations and Review. Consideration and Approval of 2014 Budget |
25 November |
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City Council Regular: Approval of 2014 Budget |
27 November |
2014 Operating Budget Forecast
The Operating Budget Forecast for 2014 that was presented in the June 24, 2013 report to the Board is outlined in Table 2.
Table 2
2014 Operating Forecast – June 24, 2013
($ Millions)
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Incremental Requirement |
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2014 |
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Maintain Services |
$10.5 |
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Growth |
0.0 |
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New Services and Needs |
1.0 |
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Service Initiatives and Efficiencies |
(3.6) |
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User Fees and Charges |
(0.2) |
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Incremental Requirement |
$ 7.7 |
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Less: Assessment Growth at 1.7% |
($3.9) |
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Add: Adjustment for Non- Departmental Allocations to Police |
0.7 |
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Net Taxation Increase Requirement |
$4.5 |
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Police Tax Rate Increase |
1.99% |
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This draft has since been updated to reflect further information from the City regarding the impact on non-departmental tax allocations to the police. As a result, an additional $100k has been added to the adjustment for non- departmental allocations which causes an increase in the Service Initiatives and Efficiencies. The updated 2014 Operating Forecast is presented in Table 3 below.
Table 3
2014 Operating Forecast – updated September 23, 2013
($ Millions)
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Incremental Requirement |
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2014 |
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Maintain Services |
$10.5 |
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Growth |
0.0 |
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New Services and Needs |
1.0 |
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Service Initiatives and Efficiencies |
(3.7) |
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User Fees and Charges |
(0.2) |
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Incremental Requirement |
$ 7.6 |
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Less: Assessment Growth at 1.7% |
($3.9) |
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Add: Adjustment for Non- Departmental Allocations to Police |
0.8 |
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Net Taxation Increase Requirement |
$4.5 |
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Police Tax Rate Increase |
1.99% |
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Staff is preparing the 2014 Draft Operating Budget in accordance with this updated forecast. Pressures and off-setting solutions have been identified during the budget development process so as to keep the tax rate increase at 1.99%. These issues will be itemized in the draft budget to be tabled by staff on 23 October 2013. The Service Initiative will play a large role in meeting our 2014 target. This approach conforms with Council’s direction that the 2014 tax rate increase be a less than 2.0%.
Service Initiative
The OPS launched the Service Initiative (SI) to ensure that it is positioned to succeed in an environment of rising expectations and declining resources.
The first phase of the project, which is nearly completed, consists of a current state assessment aimed at identifying key challenges and gaps currently facing the OPS.
Informed through documentation review, consultations, and analysis, the current state assessment will offer a baseline for transformation at the OPS by helping to highlight opportunities that allow the organization to reinvest in service to citizens and meet its policing responsibilities in an era of constrained budgets.
Long-term processes bringing about fundamental change at the OPS will play a key role in the future of the SI, however a number of early, short-term projects are underway to help transition the Service into the larger changes and bring about smaller cost and capacity savings. They include Online Reporting, Collision Reporting Centres, Background Clearance Checks and a number of smaller scale projects in each of the Directorates.
In preparation for the long-term changes, the OPS continues to learn from, and leverage, the experience of other agencies and organizations.
Once phase one is completed, phase two will begin with the prioritization of opportunities for change by the Senior Management Committee at the OPS. This will be followed by the development of business cases and work plans for the identified projects, and eventually project implementation beginning in 2014.
Public consultation is an integral part of the Board’s annual budget process. As discussed in the 24 June 2013 Board report, the public will have opportunities to attend public consultation meetings scheduled during the week of 28 October 2013. These meetings are part of the City’s budget consultation process and will be held in various locations throughout the City. Staff from the Finance Section and the operational areas of OPS will be in attendance to answer questions about the OPS budget.
Public delegations are also welcome at the 25 November 2013 meeting of the Board when it reviews, considers and approves the 2014 Police Budget.
The financial implications of the 2014 budget and forecast are detailed in the body of the report.
The OPS is currently on track to deliver a budget in accordance with the direction provided by the Board. The Police Tax Rate increase and timetable outlined in the report conforms to City Council’s direction and will allow the 2014 Operating and Capital budgets to be approved before the start of 2014.
(Original signed by)
Charles Bordeleau
Chief of Police
Responsible for the report: Director General Debra Frazer
