Surrey, BC: Surrey Connect Leader and mayoral candidate Brenda Locke announces policy of keeping the RCMP will save Surrey $520 million over the next 4 years.

“The truth is, it is not too late to save Surrey residents from an average tax increase of minimum $500 each year, it’s not too late to keep the RCMP, and it’s not too late to transition the Surrey Police Service (SPS) out. There is no legal mechanism in place for transfer of assets or a termination date for the RCMP. Currently, SPS members are deployed with the RCMP under a secondment agreement.” says Locke. It is irresponsible and disrespectful to the taxpayers, to keep going down the path of an independent municipal police force. Former RCMP Officer and council candidate Rob Stutt shared, “This transition is already 2 years overdue, and not even half complete. It will take another 4 years of paying for two police forces, to be transition-ready”

Much of the SPS transition plan was based on assumption, that existing RCMP resources, including IT infrastructure would be transferable, and that significant numbers of Surrey RCMP members would join the SPS. Neither has proven to be true. Locke inquired, “Why would a private company think they are owed assets and staff from a government organization?”

Surrey Connect conducted a thorough analysis of the independent municipal police force’s spending, including federal subsidies, capital costs, salaries, and operating expenses. CPA and Council candidate Pardeep Kooner summarized, “The math shows we will save more than half a billion dollars over the next four years, by keeping the RCMP.”

The most fiscally responsible and responsive plan for Surrey citizens is the Surrey Connect plan.

In the spring of 2018, prior to Doug McCallum becoming mayor, a motion was moved to conduct a feasibility study of moving to a private municipal police force. After being elected, McCallum ordered staff to cease the study. The residents of Surrey have never been given a full financial forecast. The cities of Red Deer and Richmond have chosen to retain the RCMP following third party feasibility studies.

Locke and the team plan on using federal subsidies for public safety programs including increased funding for Surrey Fire Service, By-Laws, RCMP, mental health programs, youth programs, and to supplement parks and recreation projects.

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For more information, please contact:

Ramona Kaptyn

E: ramonakaptyn@yahoo.ca

T: 778.294.0787 or 778.988.3930

September 23, 2022

Research summary:

Scenario 1: Keep Transitioning to the Surrey Police Service

To continue the transition to a municipal police force, operating and capital costs are necessary. Below we outline how the financial cost for the transition would impact the residents of Surrey:

Scenario 2: Keep the RCMP in Surrey

The current contract for the Surrey RCMP is in effect until 2032. The cost for this contract, with an increase of 100 Surrey RCMP officers over 4 years, is as follows:

Impacts of Federal Subsidy on Cost to Surrey

The federal government provides a subsidy to municipalities equal to 10%.

Here are the historical figures taken from the City of Surrey Financial Plan:

YearRCMP Cost to

Surrey (Gross)

Federal

Subsidy of

RCMP

RCMP Cost to

Surrey (Net)

201194,8789,48885,3902012102,18710,21991,9682013103,78810,37993,4092014108,39810,84097,5582015120,07812,008108,0702016133,40413,340120,0642017143,16114,316128,8452018143,85014,385129,4652019152,65615,266137,3902020157,67415,767141,907

1,260,073                                                                                                            126,007                                                                 1,134,066

* Actual RCMP Contract Services as per relevant Financial Plan (millions), which is publicly available. Actual shown on subsequent year Financial Plan i.e. 2020 actual shown on 2021-2025 Financial Plan

Cost Impacts of SPS Per Person

The policing costs per person were analyzed by the Province of British Columbia in 2020. We have outlined below the average cost per person for transitioning to the municipal police compared to the average cost per person if the Surrey RCMP were to remain.

POLICING COSTS PER PERSON

Vancouver*Population 698,946Cost Per Person

$                             477

Victoria*113,430$                              530Municipal Transition Plan**544,885$                             450Surrey Connect Plan***544,885$                                311

*Based on Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Policing and Security

Branch 2020 Report

** Average cost per person over 4-years with population increase of 18,000/year (e), and excluding capital expenditures

*** Average cost per person over 4-years with population increase of 18,000/year (e)

The resulting impact to homeowners is estimated to be as follows over the next four years to pay for the increase in policing costs each year:

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