The cost of Port Moody's "no call too small" police department is going up.
The city's finance committee will be considering a 2012 operating budget for PMPD that is 4.48% higher than this year's.
The budget, which has yet to be reviewed by the finance committee, stands at just over $8.5 million - an increase of about $365,000 over 2011. PMPD's operating budget has gone up by nearly $1 million since 2010. Major cost drivers include:
contractual increases of $412,627;
$11,000 to replace body armour;
a $6,699 for increased BC Hydro costs;
and a $4,990 increase in payments to the Municipal Integrated Emergency Response Team.
PMPD is hiring one new officer for 2012 at a cost of $71,900 but that cost will be mitigated by seconding a member earning $102,700 to an integrated regional team, for a net saving of $30,800. Further savings were found by shifting from leasing to purchasing IT, shaving $26,450 from the budget and cutting $7,224 for supplies.
New projects budgeted for the 2012 capital budget including adding $129,886 to the items approved in previous years, bringing the total to $354,560.
The new items include $50,150 to replace the five-year-old server used for building security and nearly $34,000 to clean and finish partition walls in the public safety building's crawl space. Another $22,000 will go to crowd-control equipment, prompted by the minor injuries suffered by two PMPD members who were assisting the Vancouver Police Department after the Stanley Cup riot.
"Given the large gatherings that can become problematic within the city of Vancouver and the subsequent controlling of such crowds, PMPD members who provide temporary assistance must be properly protected," the report states. "Most, if not all, police agencies within Metro Vancouver are in the process of purchasing protective equipment."
