The City of Belleville’s Brian Cousins delivers a presentation on potential changes to how policing costs are paid for, on October 12, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
While the crowd was much smaller than at Wednesday night’s meeting, there were varying opinions on Belleville’s plan to possibly change the way policing costs are paid for.
Citizens gathered to hear about the possible options, which range from keeping things as they are, to splitting the costs evenly between all residents, to having the rate of payment based on property assessment.
Stanley Jones lives in the urban Belleville Ward, which currently pays 96% of the policing bill and tells Quinte News, even though Thurlow is further away, the cost should still be split evenly and phased in over a number of years.
He adds that policing today is much different than it was 20 years ago, so the formula for “who pays what” needs to change.
Feedback is being taken until the end of the month with a report on a suggested solution to come to council before the holidays.
You can submit your opinions by emailing bcousins@city.belleville.on.ca.
