EZT taxpayers off the hook for big increase in 2025 OPP contract

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT), just like many municipalities across the province, was looking at a double-digit increase in its Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cost for next year, but the province has provided millions to help out.

“Our 2025 billing will be going up approximately 2.2 per cent instead of close to 20 per cent in the initial invoice,” said Mayor Phil Schaefer.

“The province is reducing the increase by $190,723 in our case. Certainly, good news for East Zorra-Tavistock ratepayers.”

The township and all other OPP-patrolled municipalities recently received a letter from Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner outlining the areas the province would be providing dollars. It included a 44 per-cent reduction in overtime from 2023 and a 10 per-cent reduction in the overall 2025 OPP invoices.

Schaefer was invited to a video call explaining police billing for next year and had a feeling something was coming down the pipe. He added the additional money will benefit the bottom line for next year’s budget.

“I had heard rumours the province was going to take a look at these large increases, and when the webinar that was set up to discuss the 2025 billing was cancelled at the last minute, I had a strong feeling that changes were coming. Without the latest reduction, the increase to the tax levy for 2025 from police coverage alone would have been approximately three per cent in EZT.”

Once a municipality receives an invoice from the Ontario Provincial Police there is no room to negotiate the final amount. Schaefer explained the only option is to add more police hours.

“There really aren’t any negotiations involved in the basic bill. A municipality can add an enhanced service like we did with the additional traffic officer. The enhanced officer position will continue in 2025. It is contracted until 2027; however, it can be cancelled with a year’s notice.”

Schaefer added the township has a very position relationship with the Oxford OPP.

“Media relations officer Randi Crawford has made a real effort to be visible in the township, and the county for that matter, and I feel that it goes a long way to promote positive community policing.”

The Ontario government is providing over $77 million in financial relief to municipalities to help offset the increased cost of municipal police services provided by the OPP.

A news release from the province said the investment will help predominantly small and rural communities address the budget impacts resulting from the collective bargaining agreement that was reached between the province and the Ontario Provincial Police Association in July.

“Our government is working closely with our municipal partners and our women and men in uniform to keep communities across Ontario safe,” said Kerzner. “The financial relief we are proposing will help municipal leaders balance their budgets and invest in their communities while ensuring no change to the policing provided by the OPP that keeps families and businesses safe.”

The province has also committed to looking at different options for reviewing the OPP billing model to ensure that it meets the needs of communities across the province.