Stirling-Rawdon council has approved a move that will help the community’s finances starting in the new year.
Monday night council approved moving to a new contract for policing with the Ontario Provincial Police.
Mayor Bob Mullin says policing costs, which are now around $2 million a year, should come down a lot.
Mullin believes paying off some debt still owing on benefits paid to police officers during the transition from a municipal police service to the OPP in 2017 would be a good plan.
“My suggestion to council for the next two years will be to take that savings and get rid of the debt load.”
The local Police Services Board needs to approve the new contract in the near future before the agreement is ratified along with the OPP.
Previously Stirling-Rawdon had been on a more expensive “transition contract” with the OPP.
