Cornwall Standard Freeholder

18 March 2010

Posted By KEVIN LAJOIE

CORNWALL -- According to a new study, Cornwall is spending more on police, fire and recreation services on a per-person basis than many other Ontario cities.

However, city officials say the figures in the 2009 BMA Municipal Study may not tell the whole story.

The study of 81 Ontario communities provides a per capita cost breakdown of various municipal services, and Cornwall ranks near the top of the pack in several categories.

According to the study, Cornwall's cost for fire services in 2008 worked out to $163 per person, which is well above the study average of $116.

Meanwhile, Cornwall is the fourth highest in the study when it comes to the per-person cost for police services, at $356. The study average was $234.

When it comes to recreation programs and services, the city spends $120 for every person in Cornwall, which is above the study norm of $71.

Cornwall fares better in other areas such as transit, recycling, parks and library costs.

Some of the study figures may be cause for alarm, however the city's finance manager said they may not offer a true comparison.

Maureen Adams said there may be differences in how municipalities report their costs, and that could impact the figures that are presented in the study. In Cornwall's case, the city charges internal costs to various departments to more accurately reflect the true cost of providing a service, but not every city follows that practice.

As an example, in the case of Cornwall police, the agency doesn't actually pay rent to the city, however the city does report maintenance costs and other building-related fees in the police budget as corporate costs.

As a result, Cornwall's policing costs will appear higher than other communities that don't account for corporate costs, Adams explained.

 "It's going to skew it," she said.

Cornwall Police Chief Dan Parkinson also suggested that different accounting practices would have an impact on the figures.

"If we're counting things in our budget that others aren't, it will stand to reason that our costs will be elevated," Parkinson said.

As for other factors, Parkinson noted that Cornwall police are responsible for court security costs, and that adds about $1 million to the police service's bottom line. Not every municipality has that added responsibility.

The police chief also pointed to Statistics Canada's crime severity index which suggests Cornwall has a high level of complex crime (things like homicides, break-ins and violent crimes).

"We're dealing with more complex crimes than many other jurisdictions," he said, suggesting that it could also be a factor in policing costs.

The police chief said Cornwall residents are getting good value from their police service, noting Cornwall's clearance rate for crimes is "almost leading the pack across the province."

"Comparing numbers and expenditures can be dangerous," he said.

In order to get an exact comparison, Adams said she would have to call up her counterparts in other cities and ask them exactly how they accounted for their costs, and that would be a very timely exercise.

The BMA study is prepared on an annual basis, and the municipalities involved -- including Cornwall -- pay to be a part of it.

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2009 BMA MUNICIPAL STUDY

FIRE (Cost per person) Cornwall: $163 Kingston: $180 Belleville: $187 Brockville: $190 Study average: $116

POLICE (Cost per person) Cornwall: $356 Kingston: $232 Belleville: $275 Brockville: $418 Study average: $234

ROADS (Cost per paved lane km)

Cornwall: $1,669 Kingston: $1,153 Belleville: $1,033 Brockville: $2,299 Study average: $2,285

TRANSIT (Cost per person) Cornwall: $73 Kingston: $85 Belleville: $15 Brockville: $27 Study average: $56

WASTE DISPOSAL (Cost per person)

Cornwall: $23 Kingston: $12 Belleville: $20 Brockville: $30

Study average: $16

RECYCLING (Cost per person) Cornwall: $1 Kingston: $14 Belleville: $14 Brockville: $18 Study average: $18

PARKS (Cost per person) Cornwall: $29 Kingston: $30 Belleville: $44 Brockville: $70 Study average: $40

RECREATION PROGRAMS/ FACILITIES (Cost per person) Cornwall: $120 Kingston: $58 Belleville: $60 Brockville: $15 Study average: $71

LIBRARY (Cost per person) Cornwall: $37 Kingston: $45 Belleville: $34 Brockville: $31 Study average: $37

CULTURE (Cost per person) Cornwall: $5 Kingston: $20 Belleville: $5 Brockville: $23 Study average: $12

Article ID# 2496349

 Did anyone dare to find out what it cost the taxpayers to have the Akwe PD for the size of the population there. Remember it is the tax payer that is paying the Akwe PD over three times the amount of their counterparts in Cornwall. That is why that young white women filed a discrimination suite and won she wanted that high paying job with the Akwe PD.

I wonder if she got the training on community laws and federal laws that are suppose to protect First Nation People. She could be charged with trepassing though.

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By wakeupcall

What I love is the "creative accounting" speel, to somehow justify its "skewed", which reminds me of how government lies, cheats and steals.

We pay for everything, we have NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING....does no one see a problem with this>

For those who insist on painting the native american with a black brush, the NWO loves the fact your brain is fixated, so they can continue to rob you blind and introduct you into their police state, world police state.

The police state, the world government.

http://www.infowars.com/invisible-empire-all-conspiracy-no-theory/

The amount of tracking information being stored on YOU, is illegal and immoral....the Police State is real and is gaing more power and money daily...

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By junglelord

The Police State coming soon....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Fo1zEjCRw&feature=player_embedded

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By junglelord,