North Bay police OK 7.6% budget increase for 2026

The North Bay Police Service has its crosshairs locked on a 7.62 per cent increase in its 2026 operating budget, which totals $34.8 million.

After months of discussions, the board was able to whittle it down from a proposed hike of more than 10 per cent.

“There’s not a lot of fat to trim. My job is to make sure the community is safe and that we’re providing service that’s able to respond to emergencies,” Chief Daryl Longworth told reporters Tuesday morning.

North Bay Deputy Mayor and budget chief Maggie Horsfield said the budget has been increasing at a high rate in recent years.

“This does bring it down to a more manageable level,” Horsfield said.

In total, 94 per cent of the budget is salary and benefits. Following previous restructuring, the budget doesn’t include any money for new positions.

It does, however, cover higher costs driven by the new collective bargaining agreement ratified in the summer and updated training requirements.

“There were a lot of things I would have liked to have had in the budget,” Longworth added.

“But I am satisfied with what we have.”

On the capital side of the budget, the board approved nearly $1.7 million to continue tackling in-building coverage issues where officers can’t transmit to some areas in the city and to complete a needs assessment of the current building on Princess Street West of both the space and technology needs of the police agency.

“The building has been on the radar here long before I came to this community,” Longworth said.

“It’s something I want to press a little bit harder on to recognize that we’re starting to outgrow this building.”

He said it’s getting to the point that the city will soon need to decide whether to spend on major enhancements of the building or build a new detachment.

“Part of what our needs assessment this year is going to be doing is hiring a consultant to come in and look at the needs of the organization, but also look at the limitations of the building,” Longworth said.

“It’s an old building. We’re already spending a lot of money on updating the electricity within the building, just so we can meet the requirements of the 911 call centre. Do you throw more money at solving a problem that maybe is not going to solve it long-term, or do you look at building new?”

Grace period

Police are also looking at upgrading tactical equipment, such as ammunition, firearms and vehicles. Their equipment comes from the United States, and those costs continue to rise, especially with uncertainty from tariffs and strained trade relations between Canada and the U.S.

“We had a grace period up to the end of October to make some purchases without the tariffs,” Longworth said.

“But that is coming to an end soon. We’re constantly looking at other sources. While we want to maintain the level of quality that we’re getting, as well, and make sure our officers have the equipment they need.”

The budget will now be sent to the city for approval during its upcoming budget deliberations, which start next week.

“When I go to the council table, I’m looking at the overall impact on the city,” Horsfield said.

A special council meeting Dec. 11 will take place to approve the city’s 2026 operating and capital budget.

“I’ve always believed that the public is willing to pay extra for community safety,” Longworth added.