The Ottawa Police Service says it's projecting a balanced budget by the end of the year, despite a significant amount of overtime.
A report for the Police Services Board shows a $2.4 million deficit in the overtime budget, blamed on the investigations into the record number of shootings in the city, as well as the 15 homicides seen so far this year. The Hells Angels Canada Run this summer also contributed to the overtime hole, costing police an extra $250,000 in OT costs.
However, the budget is still expected to balance by the end of the year, thanks mostly to a one-time surplus of $2 million in compensation costs, due to the result of the arbitrated 2015 contract settlement for the sworn and civilian members of the Ottawa Police Association.
The Police service also found savings in areas such as fuel costs. The delay of the implementation of a new radio system means a savings of $650,000 for the Service.
Meanwhile, the number of calls for service to the Ottawa Police in the third quarter of the year has dropped compared to the same period last year.
80,800 calls for service were made July through September, a 6% drop compared to 2015. There were 2800 fewer traffic stops (a 20% decrease over last year) and 850 fewer traffic complaints (an 80% drop). Theft related calls dropped 22% but that was offset by an increase in online reports. Police received 1300 more theft-related reports online compared to 2015.
However, emergency calls for service went up 3% in the third quarter, compared to 2015.