Written By Jan Sims
MIDDLESEX CENTRE - Middlesex OPP Detachment Commander Ross Stuart appeared before Middlesex Centre council November 6th to address concerns about a big jump in municipal policing costs.
Middlesex Centre is facing a 22.4% increase, as outlined in the 2025 OPP annual billing statement. That represents a 2% tax levy increase for the 2025 municipal budget.
“The primary reason you’re seeing that increase is due to salaries and benefits. I can tell you that 90% of the cost that comes to the municipality for OPP service, directly relates to salaries and benefits,” Stuart told council.
The increased salary cost follows a new contract ratified by OPP members in July. The contract, which runs through 2026 provides for a 4.75% increase in wages and benefits retroactive to 2023. “As the Detachment Commander for Middlesex Centre it’s not lost on me that the increase that you see in the cost for OPP service is going to have an impact on other priorities,” said Stuart.
Middlesex Centre Mayor, Aina DeViet raised the issue of how this impacts the budgeting process. “Our problem with this… is that we have one source of revenue for this kind of thing. And those ratepayers are sitting in the room,” said DeViet. “We have made plans for certain infrastructure changes, commitments and so forth. And now here we are looking at writing a cheque that’s going to cost taxpayers 2% on their taxes, which is a lot of money…The only way you can really get around this is you have to dump another project, delay this or completely change a program,” added the mayor.
As well as salaries, Stuart outlined other factors accounting for the increased policing bill. This includes the cost of calls per service. Those calls have gone up, following a dip during the time of COVID.
“It’s easy to come before council when everything is wonderful. It’s more important for me to be here in person when there are difficult questions to answer,” Stuart told council, adding that it’s a similar situation with other Detachment Commanders around the province being called before their respective municipal leaders.
