Hamilton Police ask for budget increase

Hamilton Police say their budget needs to grow by almost 2.8 percent.

The proposed Hamilton Police Service budget for 2016 is $164.1 million, but the increase over last year’s budget is the lowest requested by police in the last 17 years.

Most of the increase will go to salaries and benefits for current officers.

The draft budget calls for a staffing increase of the full-time equivalent of just seven and a half employees.

The police services board will review the budget on Friday before either approving it or sending it back to Chief Glenn De Caire for more work.

Hamilton city council is expected to hold a final vote on the police budget early in the new year.