Belleville City Councillor Paul Carr says a budget increase for the Belleville Police Service may mean it is time to revisit the “value-for-money” discussion.
In an open letter posted on Thursday evening, Carr slammed the budget on a number of fronts.
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One concern he indicated was the fact he could not find the budget online for the public to view.
Carr says it was not available on their agenda or posted to the BPS webpage.
Early Friday morning Quinte News searched the 161 page agenda from Thursday and also searched the BPS website and could not locate the budget (as of 3:19 a.m. Friday November 21, 2025)
He continued that the budget of $33.5 million for policing in 2026, would amount to a three per cent increase on the tax bill, before any other operational/capital considerations are factored in.
“What is also perplexing with this news is that I posed a question to the police board chair during their deputation earlier this week during city council’s Capital Budget meeting where I asked what the Police Capital Budget impact would be on their operating budget. I, along with city council, were told that figure was not available. Yet, two days later the police board approves their operating budget which would have most definitely included those figures.”
“Despite the lack of majority support of city council, I stand by my idea that a value-for-money review is long overdue. Perhaps this budget may reconsider that idea.”
Carr appeared on the Lorne Brooker Show on CJBQ Friday to discuss his concerns.
Listen to the interview:
