Policing cost lower than expected

The cost of policing was lower than expected in 2013, Wellington County council has learned.

Councillor Ray Tout, council’s representative on the county police services board, said the reduction “is a bit of good News.” It was also the result of efforts by OPP Inspector Scott Lawson to streamline use of officers to become more “efficient,” said Tout.

The province had estimated higher policing costs, but the provincial estimate was reduced by $972,489, resulting in a county cost of $16.087 million. The county had budgeted $16.61 million for policing and with the real cost approved on April 24, the county saw a reduction of $522,000.