The Ottawa Police Service has formally presented a draft budget for 2026 that proposes a significant five per cent increase in its funding. If approved by city council, this would inject an additional $26.1 million into the police budget, pushing the total net operating budget to $414.9 million.
Breaking Down the Budget Request
Police Chief Eric Stubbs defended the proposed increase, stating it is essential to address a wide array of operational pressures and community priorities. He emphasized that the service has been collaborating for months with the Ottawa Police Services Board and City Hall to arrive at a figure that balances the needs of the force with those of the community.
The budget increase is slated to cover several key areas. These include the ongoing implementation of a new district policing model, which will divide the city into four distinct districts—central, south, east, and west—each led by a superintendent. The funds are also required for rising costs associated with salaries, benefits, and sick leave, the rollout of body-worn cameras for officers, and the planned hiring of 25 new personnel next year.
Community Concerns and Upcoming Consultations
Not everyone is supportive of the proposed hike. The community advocacy group Horizon Ottawa has voiced criticism, arguing that the police budget should be limited to a 2.9 per cent increase, in line with other city departments, or frozen entirely until data demonstrates that higher spending yields tangible results. The group expressed concern that this request comes as other essential municipal services are facing potential cuts.
The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the draft budget. The Ottawa Police Services Board is scheduled to hear from public delegations on November 21. Following this consultation process, the budget will advance to Ottawa City Council for a final approval vote.
A City with Diverse Policing Demands
Chief Stubbs spent the summer meeting with councillors across all 24 wards to understand the varied policing priorities in different neighbourhoods. He highlighted the immense and growing demands placed on the police service, which range from traffic enforcement and speeding to complex issues like homelessness, mental health crises, auto theft, fraud, cybercrime, and intimate partner violence.
Stubbs pointed to the new district model as a key strategy for managing these challenges. Each district will feature integrated teams comprising community relationship specialists, crime analysts, youth officers, and community officers. This structure is designed to better serve Ottawa's diverse and geographically vast landscape, which includes rural, suburban, and dense urban areas.
The proposed $26.1 million increase is projected to be generated primarily through an $18.3 million rise in the property tax levy. The remainder would come from tax revenue from new construction and payments in lieu of taxes.
