Quick approval

After a month delay in December, Thunder Bay Police Services Board members passed its $31.6 million budget in less than 10 minutes.

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs, who took office last month, wanted to take a closer look at the police board’s operation budget and requested to put the matter off until the new year. The board met briefly on Tuesday and approved the operational and capital 2011 budgets. Following the approval, the budget estimates will go to city council for further deliberations.

Tuesday morning’s approval represents an increase of 1.1 per cent over last year’s budget. Board officials said wages and benefits were the main reason for the increase, as well as some additional expenses such as a one-time service fee of $25,000 for a different email system.

Hobbs said he didn’t have any recommendations for the budget following the month-long delay, and will continue look into ways to reduce costs. While he called the capital budget responsible, he added that he had some concerns with the operation budget.

One area he intends to take a closer look at is the 10-hour shift schedule for officers. Hobbs called the shift horrendous and criticized it for not maximizing police deployment onto the street.

Hobbs said he would like members of the Thunder Bay Police Association to sit down with the Thunder Bay Police Service Board and come up with unique ways to reduce costs.

"We’re really going to have to bargain tough this year," Hobbs said. "I’m OK with the capital budget. The operation budget is going to be a concern."

Coun. Joe Virdiramo said City Manager Tim Commisso has reviewed the budget with police Chief Bob Herman. It will now go into budget deliberations with city council and at that time councillors have the option to approve or ask for changes to be made.

“I remember four years ago, if not longer, one of the councillors at the time requested a reduction and the chief took it back,” Virdiramo said. “Some things were put in motion to reduce the budget, however they didn’t fly. The budget was approved as presented.”

Virdiramo said he wasn’t sure how quickly the budget would get passed.

"You never know…city council surprises me from time to time. Things are tight. We’re in a time in our history where the environment financially isn’t as great as it should be but hopefully things will continue to happen and work."

Board members also took a moment of silence for fallen Toronto police officer 35-year-old Sgt. Ryan Russell Tuesday morning. Russell died after being hit by a stolen snowplow.

Thunder Bay Police Chief Bob Herman wasn’t present at the police board meeting because he was attending the Sgt. Russell’s memorial. Const. Kelly Walsh, Det.-Const. Jason Rybak and Det.-Const. Justin Dubuk also attended the service.