Vancouver Police Department to be over budget by millions: report

The Vancouver Police Department projects it will be over budget by the end of the year, largely due to overtime costs.

The Vancouver Police Department is expecting to be millions of dollars over budget by the end of year, according to a report.

The Q1 Variance Report, which covers the first quarter ending on March 31, states the VPD is over budget by 3.7 per cent or $3,868,735, and is projected to finish the year over budget by 1.6 per cent or $6,999,302.

The VPD attributes the overspend in the first quarter to backfilling vacancies, policing protests, and equipment purchases for its body-worn camera initiative.

Salaries and benefits for the first quarter were over budget by 2.9 per cent or $2,582,827.

The report states the Q1 trend is expected to continue through the year.

Task Force Barrage

The VPD’s report said the overspending is partly due to a higher costs for officer and civilian overtime to backfill current vacancies.

The budget projection includes $5 million in overtime costs related to ongoing work for Task Force Barrage. Those funds are to be received from the city before the end of the year, the report says.

Task Force Barrage was announced in February and significantly increased the police presence in the Downtown Eastside.

Police have said its goal is to target organized crime, repeat violent offenders, and street disorder.

Growing budget

In December, Vancouver city council approved the department’s 2025 net operating budget of $425,947,189, which is an increase of $14,639,956, or 3.6 per cent from the 2024 budget.

The VPD is one of the country’s highest-paid police forces.