Ottawa police ask for $44 million more from taxes in 2027, putting pressure on Sutcliffe's 2.5% cap
The Ottawa Police Service told its board's finance and audit committee on November 5 that it needs an extra $44 million from the tax levy next year, an 11 percent increase, to hire 50 officers and cover wage and equipment costs.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on cbc.ca.
The Ottawa Police Service presented its 2027 budget approach to the police service board's finance and audit committee on Thursday, asking for an extra $44 million from the City's tax levy, CBC News reported. The request would raise the taxpayer-funded portion of the OPS budget by 11 percent, from $415 million to $459 million. The service's total 2026 budget is $484 million, with the rest coming from fines and other revenue sources, according to CBC.
The $44 million increase breaks down across five areas, CBC reported. Hiring 50 new officers would cost $10 million. A collective agreement wage increase adds $14 million. Overtime accounts for $4 million. Year two of the body-worn camera program costs $4 million. A new training centre carries a $5 million price tag. Modernization work, including tools using artificial intelligence and drones, accounts for $1 million more.
The service also expects to receive $6 million from assessment growth and find $2 million through internal savings, CBC said.
The request puts direct pressure on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who has said he wants to hold the City's overall tax increase to a maximum of 2.5 percent. His re-election campaign included a promise to hire 200 more police officers over four years, which works out to 50 per year. The 2027 request is consistent with that pace, but the cost sits well above what a 2.5 percent city-wide cap would allow, according to CBC's reporting.
Sutcliffe's promise to hire more officers and his budget commitments are tracked at the Ottawa promise tracker.
Councillor Steve Desroches, who sits on the police board, told CBC the request arrives against what he described as a difficult backdrop for affordability. He warned that decisions on the police budget will involve trade-offs with other City services.
The police budget request will come back before the full board in December, CBC reported, as part of the City's budget directions process. City Council is expected to approve a final budget in February 2027.
This is not the first time a large OPS request has been trimmed at the board stage. In 2026, the service sought a 10.6 percent increase and received approval for 5 percent, CBC noted.
The service also laid out a longer-term projection. If the annual 50-officer hiring plan continues at the requested pace, the tax levy increases could reach as high as 13 percent in some years before settling to 4 percent annually by 2032, CBC reported.
The December police board meeting will give the public a full look at the 2027 budget directions, and City Council is set to vote on a final budget in February 2027. The City's public meetings at pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com list upcoming agenda items for the board.
Questions this story answers
How much is the Ottawa Police Service asking for in its 2027 budget?
CBC News reported that the Ottawa Police Service presented a 2027 budget approach on November 5, 2026, asking for $44 million more from the City's tax levy. That is an 11 percent increase, raising the taxpayer-funded portion of the budget from $415 million to $459 million. The service's total 2026 budget is $484 million, with the rest coming from fines and other revenue sources.
What would the extra $44 million cover for Ottawa police in 2027?
CBC News reported that the $44 million breaks down across five areas: hiring 50 new officers at $10 million, a collective agreement wage increase at $14 million, overtime at $4 million, year two of the body-worn camera program at $4 million, and a new training centre at $5 million. Modernization work, including tools using artificial intelligence and drones, accounts for $1 million more.
Does the Ottawa police budget request conflict with Mayor Sutcliffe's tax cap?
CBC News reported that Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has said he wants to hold the City's overall tax increase to a maximum of 2.5 percent. The police service's request for an 11 percent levy increase is well above what that cap would allow, according to CBC's reporting. Sutcliffe's re-election campaign included a promise to hire 200 more officers over four years, which works out to 50 per year, consistent with the 2027 request.
What did Councillor Steve Desroches say about the police budget request?
CBC News reported that Councillor Steve Desroches, who sits on the Ottawa police service board, said the request arrives against what he described as a difficult backdrop for affordability. He warned that decisions on the police budget will involve trade-offs with other City services. Desroches represents Riverside South-Findlay Creek, Ward 22.
When will Ottawa City Council decide on the 2027 police budget?
CBC News reported that the police budget request will come back before the full board in December 2026, as part of the City's budget directions process. City Council is expected to vote on a final 2027 budget in February 2027. The board has trimmed police requests before: in 2026, the service sought a 10.6 percent increase and received approval for 5 percent.
What is the Ottawa Police Service's long-term budget projection?
CBC News reported that if the annual 50-officer hiring plan continues at the requested pace, the tax levy increases could reach as high as 13 percent in some years before settling to 4 percent annually by 2032. The service expects to receive $6 million from assessment growth and find $2 million through internal savings, which reduce the net levy ask.
Has Ottawa police made large budget requests before?
CBC News reported that in 2026, the Ottawa Police Service sought a 10.6 percent increase from the tax levy. The police service board approved 5 percent instead. The 2027 request of 11 percent follows a similar pattern, again above the City's overall tax guidance, with the December board meeting expected to begin the process of reconciling the request with the City's budget directions.
Where can Ottawa residents follow the police budget and council decisions?
Ottawa City Council and its committees discuss the annual budget at regular public meetings. The police service board meets in public, and its agendas are posted at the City's meetings site, pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's promises, including his commitment to hire 50 officers per year and to hold the tax increase to 2.5 percent, are tracked at voche.me's Ottawa promise tracker.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
