Editorial — Not the time to squeeze police

June 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

Peel Region is asking that one per cent be shaved off the 2014 proposed budget increases for tax supported projects.
We would generally admire such attempts at austerity, and for the most part, we do in this case. But as we have learned in the past (sometimes the hard way), simply holding the line on budgets is not the only way to achieve sound money management. Sometimes, there’s a good reason for increasing budgets, especially if they represent services that taxpayers want and need.
Thus we go along with the efforts of the Town and Caledon OPP to have the local police excused from these efforts.
Inspector Rose DiMarco, accompanied by Town Treasurer Fuwing Wong, made the case to Town councillors last Tuesday, and received their support, and two days later, basically the same presentation was received with little comment by Regional councillors.
Like we said, holding the line on spending is good, but not to the point of constricting a service that people want, need and are happy with.
Caledon OPP has released the results of a community satisfaction survey conducted last year, and in just about every category, the detachment achieved scores in excess of 90 per cent. Under just about any circumstances, those results are impressive indeed.
Politicians and bureaucrats are always hearing loud calls from people who want their taxes cut. What sometimes doesn’t come across as loud are the expressions of satisfaction, and that’s what we’re hearing in this case.
When it comes to policing in Caledon, we think it’s pretty clear this is not a time for nickel and diming.