Vancouver to restore $5.7M withheld from 2021 police budget, but tax hike looms

The Vancouver Police Board has successfully appealed a City of Vancouver decision that cut millions from the police budget and the timing means the cost won't hit taxpayers until next year.

Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer says a provincial report from the director of police services has ordered the city to restore $5.7 million to the department’s 2021 budget.

Palmer says in a statement that the removal of that funding directly affected the number of police officers the department was able to hire to meet the city’s policing needs.

City Manager Paul Mochrie says in an email that the ruling is being reviewed but "will result in an additional $5.7 million in expenses on top of the already approved 2022 budget."

Vancouver is not allowed to run a deficit and Mochrie says the budget process for this year is complete so reserves will be used to offset the shortfall.