Hamilton council questions police chief on proposed 6.81% budget hike

Hamilton councillors questioned Police Chief Frank Bergen today on his police services budget for the 2026 tax year. He is asking for a 6.81 per cent increase over 2025.

Police Chief Frank Bergen was once again pitching his proposed 2026 budget of 239 million dollars to Hamilton City Council today. He says the funding would not only maintain current services, but also allow the creation of a new unit in response to an increase in intimate partner violence. “But the envelope in 2026 is for us to realize an intimate partner violence unit. That will be 20 investigators, with the help of a civilian,” Bergen said.

He also told council that, if approved, the budget would put more officers on the ground. “What we are asking this council to consider—because we have heard it time and time again—is that people want to see police in their community,” he said. “Therefore, to build on deployment in the downtown core Division One, where we have eight officers, I’ve asked for, and received, support at the board level to increase deployment on the east end and also on the Mountain.”

The chief says that while shootings and homicides are down, crime involving younger people is up. Violent youth crime has risen by 37 per cent. “It’s not uncommon to see incidents on the Mountain, coming out of Lime Ridge or McDonald’s Plaza, involving bear spray. These kids love the bear spray, and they intimidate people with it,” Bergen said.

City council will review the proposed 2026 budget over the next 30 days, with final adoption expected in March.