During mid-cycle budget discussions, Calgary police and fire present their cases

Unless the city provides more funding in its budget, the Calgary Police Commission is suggesting using funds designated for community crises and mental-health organizations to finance a new guns range.

The police department claims that its training program, which is 20 years old, has to be updated since it is dangerous and is affecting its ability to recruit and hire new officers.

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"The Taj Mahal won't be constructed here. "It's a training facility that has 16 range bays and a few classrooms," Chief Mark Neufeld explained.

"At the moment, we are hiring 135 candidates annually and are prepared for roughly 80 recruits. Thus, you can understand the mathematical issue that we face as the city and the service both continue to expand possess."

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Calgary residents visit city hall as mid-cycle budget negotiations get underway.
A new weapons range now costs $23 million instead of $10 million because of supply chain problems and inflation.

At city hall, the issue of how to pay for the new facility appears to be more contentious than the necessity for one.

Unused funds from the Community Safety Investment Framework, a fund intended to support community partners that prioritize mental health, crisis calls, and street safety, were proposed by the police commission.

The city will have to find funds in its $6 billion budget for the following year if that isn't usable.

"How we respond to their dual needs is still up in the air. However, I can attest to the fact that public safety is a top priority for Calgary residents," Mayor Jyoti Gondek stated.

The council is still debating proposed budgetary changes that might result in a 3.6% rise in combined property taxes the following year.

The Calgary Fire Department also requested an additional $4.7 million for the upcoming year on Tuesday.

To improve responses to high-rise fires, particularly in the downtown area, the department plans to use the majority of that funding to expand the number of crew members on its aerial trucks.
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"Several years ago, the council set a goal for us to be able to put together an efficient reaction force or a first alarm in 11 minutes, 90% of the time. That has deteriorated in recent "We're currently almost at 14 minutes to assemble that first alarm," Chief Steve Dongworth said, referring to the past several years since he became chief.

Council members will present their suggestions to try to reduce expenditure before decisions about budget adjustments are made.
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In an attempt to reduce the planned property tax increase that the administration has currently requested, some council members have stated that they want to table at least 20 amendments.

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