A letter from Ontario’s Solicitor General regarding the municipality’s Ontario Provincial Police funding obligations for 2027 has Bancroft’s elected officials concerned.
It states that no municipality policed by the OPP will see its total policing costs increase by more than 11 per cent compared with 2026.
The estimated police budget for 2026 sits at approximately $1.85 million, with the actual cost yet to be determined. The town spent a total of $1,449,567 on policing in 2025 after a 10 per cent provincial discount and a $4,700 year-end adjustment.
Council voted this week to send the province an open letter outlining its concerns over the rising costs. The letter was read at this week’s meeting by Mayor Paul Jenkins.
“Recognizing that policing costs represent the town’s largest, uncontrollable budget pressure and that continued increases place a disproportionate burden on taxpayers and affect the town’s ability to maintain affordability while funding other essential municipal services and infrastructure.”
The OPP is currently preparing the 2027 annual billing statements, which are expected to be provided to municipalities in September.
Deputy Mayor Wayne Wiggins said he’s concerned about increasing police costs for small municipalities like Bancroft.
“I’m not sure where this will all end, but it’s not only going to break little towns like Bancroft; it has to end somewhere.”
