Police services board hosting public input session on proposed $253 million budget

The Waterloo Regional Police Services Board is hosting a public input session on their 2025 Draft Operating and Capital Budget.

The police services board is proposing a $253 million budget for 2025, and a just under 9 per cent tax increase to support that blueprint.

The budget has increased by around 11 per cent in 2025, compared to the approximately $223 million budget for the year prior.

In terms of how that will affect people’s bottom line, the average resident of Waterloo Region could be paying about $70 more in property taxes next year, just under $850 total.

In spite of those increases, according to Waterloo Regional Police Services staff, Waterloo Region residents have the third-lowest per capita cost per resident amongst the ‘Big 12’ police services, only outmatched by Halton Region and Ottawa police services.

According to the police service, the main factors contributing to the increase include staffing, as the service looks to complete the hiring of an additional 18 uniformed officers and civilian staff, technological upgrades, including better security and improved fingerprinting technology, and more.

The public input session will be streamed live on the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board’s YouTube page.

After hearing input today, staff will prepare the next draft of the budget to be presented on Nov. 13.