Whereas RCMP contracted costs represent a significant portion of local governments annual budgets; And whereas all contracts contain a method to independently verify their accuracy: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to develop a method for local governments to independently verify RCMP invoices.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General In accordance with the Police Act the Act, the Province must provide policing and law enforcement services to rural and unincorporated areas, and municipalities with a population of up to 5,000 persons. Once a municipality reaches a population of 5,000 or more people, the municipality is responsible for the provision, and costs, of policing and law enforcement services within their municipal jurisdiction. While one hundred percent of the cost of policing and law enforcement, under the Act, is the responsibility of the municipality, municipalities that choose to enter into a Municipal Police Unit Agreement MPUA with the Province, to establish a municipal police unit serviced by the BC RCMP, are subject to cost share arrangements with the federal government, as outlined in the MPUA. Per the Police Service Agreements, processes related to billing are operational matters that fall within the internal management responsibilities of the BC RCMP. The Police Service Agreements in BC Provincial Police Service Agreement, Municipal Police Service Agreement, and the Municipal Police Unit Agreement are multi-government agreements that are in effect from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2032. To ensure local governments can engage in appropriate fiscal planning, Article 16 of the MPUA requires the Member in Charge and Chief Executive Officer discuss topics relevant to the projected five-year Multi-Year Financial Plan MYFP for the municipality. The Chief Executive Officer provides the Member in Charge with the citys projected annual budget for the next fiscal-year to balance the MYFP. These plans cover a five-year period to allow municipalities to set aside funds to cover the identified costs. Policing and Security Branch resolves to continue raising the concern of in-year increases to policing costs to Public Safety Canada and the RCMP through the Contract Management Committee. In particular, the need for the RCMP to adhere to the MYFP process to ensure all contract partners can financially plan for upcoming costs.