Waterloo Region’s police board approves updated 2025 budget

A revised budget for policing services in the region passed a key hurdle on Wednesday as the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board passed their 2025 operating budget.

The approved budget now sits at $252.5 million, down from $253.2 million presented back in October. WRPS reduced their budget by $726,000 after two public consultations on September 20 and October 28. The reductions include $243,000 from firearm, software maintenance and training and $483,000 from salary contractual estimates. To date, there has been $5 million in reductions to the 2025 budget estimates.

For the average household, the budget would cost $846 a year, or an increase of $67 from last year. The cost per resident is $336 a year, which is the third lowest across the Big 12 police services in Ontario, just behind Ottawa and Halton.

“We continue to track this year over year to show there is an absolute fiscal efficiency in terms of the service we provide to the community and the impact on our residents,” said Chief Mark Crowell.

Compared to last year, the budget is an increase of 10.5 per cent, or $24 million, largely driven by staffing expansion, staffing costs and benefit cost increases. Next year’s budget will also see the addition of 18 full time officers and 1.9 part time officers.

The budget will now be presented to regional councillors on the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee on November 20.