Who pays policing costs

Photo: Castanet Staff - File Photo

Could Peachland be heading back to the days where taxpayers didn't have to foot policing costs?

Current population trends provided by BC Stats suggest that is a distinct possibility.

The amount a municipality pays for policing is based purely on population. Municipalities under 5,000 pay nothing while those with between 5,000 and 14,999 foot 70 per cent of the cost.

Larger communities over 15,000 pick up 90 per cent of the policing bill.

The rest of the tab is picked up by the federal government.

Which brings us back to Peachland. During the last census in 2011, Peachland's population was pegged at 5,200 meaning, for the first time, it moved from a zero municipal taxpayer burden to the 70 per cent threshold.

Since then, estimates from BC Stats show that figure has dropped each year. The 2015 estimate shows Peachland with a population of 5,013.

If accurate, and the trend continues, the population could slip below the magic number when the next census is taken in May.

For the time being, Peachland residents will have to continue paying its share which finance director Doug Pryde pegs at $650,000.

That will mean a three per cent tax increase for policing costs alone.

Prior to this year, much of the extra policing costs was paid for through a reserve fund set up in 2002 when the municipality knew it was getting close to that 5,000 threshold.

The municipality current has more than $200,000 in that reserve, however, Pryde said that money is earmarked for emergencies.

Council, as it deliberates the budget, could choose to apply some or all to policing costs.