A federal government decision to give municipalities - including the City of Prince George - a temporary reprieve from paying the retroactive portion of an increase to RCMP salaries is being welcomed by Coun. Garth Frizzell and he hopes the step will be made permanent.
"It's not entirely what we want but it's certainly a nice gesture," said Frizzell. "What we're still looking for is a covering of the retroactive pay and ideally to get some support for the increased pay as well but there is what you hope for and what you get, and it's not negative."
The Globe and Mail reported this week that Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino presented a letter to members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities last month confirming Ottawa has taken the step while it considers whether to help shoulder some of the burden.
Last August, RCMP members ratified the six-year deal, which includes a 23.78 per cent pay increase. The contract is retroactive to 2017, and municipalities were required to make a one-time payment to cover the back pay.
A sergeant who was making $100,000 a year is now receiving a $21,000 pay increase, according to the Globe and Mail. However, the RCMP's union says the salary hikes bring its members pay into line with municipal and provincial forces.
For Prince George, the hit amounted to $6.5 million, council members were told in November but municipalities had been warned ahead of time that an increase was coming and to save up in advance.
By the time the contract was ratified, the city had put $4 million into a reserve and in April, council approved a budget that includes a $2.4-million increase in its policing cost this year.
Frizzell said the latest news will not lead to a trimming of the city's property tax levy.
"If we did that and we find out at the end of the pause 'no guys, it's all on you,' then we'd suddenly have to find that six-and-a-half again, so no, we're going to have to set it aside and keep hoping for the outcome we want," Frizzell said adding the levy has already been established for this year.
The June meeting of the FCM in Regina was the last one for Frizzell who goes out as the organization's past president. He remains chair of Prince George city council's finance and audit committee.
