EZT paying nearly 10 per cent more for policing next year

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has delivered its 2026 invoice to East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT), revealing a sharp increase compared with 2025.

The cost of policing in the township is rising by just under $113,000, or an increase of 9.95 per cent.

“This means our budget deliberations will be at a levy increase of 1.34 per cent right out of the gate, before other expenses are considered,” said Mayor Phil Schaefer.

Municipalities using OPP services will see their 2026 bills rise by no more than 11 per cent compared to 2025 under a provincial cap. The cap is part of a revised cost-recovery and billing model designed to give municipalities more predictability and prevent sudden, steep increases. The province has set aside $77 million to help offset higher costs next year.

The cap is only for 2026. Without further reforms or funding support, municipalities could still face volatility in subsequent years, especially if policing costs continue rising.

According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), OPP costs have risen sharply year after year due to a combination of labour costs, changes to the billing structure and growing service demands, with salaries and benefits accounting for most of the increase.

Wages, benefits and pensions make up the bulk of OPP costs. Recent arbitrated collective agreements awarded OPP officers significant raises, including retroactive pay, and municipalities are required to absorb those costs because Ontario operates the OPP on a full cost-recovery model.

Over the past several years, the province has phased out subsidies and discounts that once helped keep OPP bills lower, and changes to the billing formula have shifted more costs directly onto municipalities, especially smaller and rural ones.

Municipalities were given funding to offset some of the 2025 increase in OPP costs, but in the case of Zorra Township, its budget was already approved. CAO Diane Larder said they did receive an 11 per cent hike but taxpayers won’t be affected.

“We put the money from last year’s adjustment into reserves after we absorbed the higher increase in 2025, so we don’t have to absorb it in 2026,” Larder said.

The issue of policing costs will be discussed at the EZT and Zorra regular council meetings next week.

East Zorra-Tavistock traditionally releases its budget every spring, but Schaefer is responsible for the document under Strong Mayor Powers, meaning it must be tabled before the end of January.

“I have delegated the budget to staff; however, I will be actively involved with senior staff in the formulation of the budget from beginning to end. Work will commence on that early in the new year.” 

Staff will meet in late January and will include the mayor in the development process as part of this year’s and all future budget cycles.

Council has 30 days to review and, if desired, pass resolutions to amend the proposed budget. After those 30 days, the mayor has 10 days to veto any amendments passed by council. If no amendments are made, or if any amendments are not vetoed/are overridden, the budget is deemed adopted, meaning it becomes operative based on the timeline, rather than through a traditional bylaw approval process.