Hamilton police report $1M budget surplus for 2022

The Hamilton Police Service says it will use its $1,020,546 surplus toward the purchase of a laser scanner, a peer support app for first responders and by putting money back into reserves.

At a meeting Thursday, police Chief Frank Bergen walked the service's oversight board through the proposed plan, which faced pushback from one board member, but ultimately passed.

Here's what will happen to the money. 

The service says $437,546 will go back into the tax stabilization reserve and $175,000 will go into the capital reserve.

Other ways police will spend the money include:

• Faro 3D data capture laser scanner for $60,000.
• Alcohol screening devices for $63,500.
• Intoxilyzer 9000 infrared breath tester for $12,500.
• Ballistic shields for $12,000.
• Digital storage in the investigative service division for $125,000.
• Biological lab freezers and fridges in forensic services for $45,000.
• Virtual meeting rooms for $50,000.
• PeerConnect app for $40,000.

Bergen noted some items on the spending list are required by legislation, like ballistic shields and alcohol screening devices.

The app, he said, is part of a chance to participate in the peer support program for three years that would help officers with their mental health.

Ward 2's Cameron Kroetsch, one of the three council members who sit on the police services board, said there aren't "sufficient checks and balances" about how the service spends the surplus.

"Our surplus should go back to the city. I think it should use the same budgetary process the original money came from," said Kroetsch, who represented the sole vote against the plans to spend the surplus.

"It doesn't allow the city, which gives the police service the money, a chance to weigh in."

Ward 7 Coun. Esther Pauls, a fellow board member whose son is a staff sergeant with the police service, asked Bergen what happens when the service faces a deficit.

Bergen said the service had a roughly $2-million deficit in 2021 and offset the pressures through reserves.

"And that's why I will vote yes," Pauls said.