OPP quote due shortly, vote by the end of next month

West Nipissing council is taking another look at the costs associated with replacing its municipal police service with the Ontario Provincial Police.

Jay Barbeau, West Nipissing’s chief administrative officer, said the OPP’s costing proposal is expected to be presented to council shortly. And, he said, a decision could be made by the end of next month.

Although West Nipissing went through an OPP cost analysis process several years ago, Barbeau said municipal politicians have requested another costing in light of a new billing formula.

The new formula, which is intended to be fairer and more transparent, includes a base price for policing, plus an additional charge for reactive calls for service.

Base policing accounts for about 60 per cent of the bill, while calls for services account for the remainder.

West Nipissing council voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the community’s municipal police service following an OPP costing in 2012.

At that time, the OPP projected its operating costs over five years would, in fact, be less than those of the West Nipissing Police Service. But estimated startup costs of nearly $2.8 million were deemed too expensive.

Read more here: www.nugget.ca/2017/10/06/opp-quote-due-shortly-vote-by-the-end-of-next-month