Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf says the Service’s proposed 20.5 percent increase for 2026 is essential to maintain effective, accountable policing and meet legislative requirements under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act.
The Cobourg Police Services Board approved the $1.6 million increase as part of a multi-year plan launched in 2023. The budget includes no new hires but supports operational costs such as technology upgrades, staff wellness, and contractual obligations.
VandeGraaf says one of the biggest cost drivers stems from the Board’s 2024 decision to reduce the 2025 tax levy by drawing additional funds from the police Business Centre. While that move reduced short-term tax pressures, it also left the 2026 budget to make up the difference to reflect the true cost of policing. Without relying on one-time funding, the increase this year would have been closer to 10 percent, driven by ongoing costs for insurance, fuel, and staffing commitments.
The chief says there is “nothing discretionary” in the 2026 operational budget, which he describes as a core-based plan focused on maintaining community safety.
Programs such as the V13 Policetech Accelerator and officer wellness initiatives remain key priorities. The Accelerator helped secure over $1 million in provincial funding last year for initiatives including Street Crime and M-HEART.
The budget will now move to Cobourg council for consideration.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
