$101M Halifax police budget proposed for 2025-2026

The entrance to the Halifax Regional Police detachment on Gottingen Street is pictured on Oct. 29, 2024. (CTV Atlantic/Joel LeBlanc)

The Halifax Regional Police could be operating with a nine-figure budget in the new year.

The proposed operating budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is $101,255,700, according to an information package for Board of Police Commissioners. The previous year’s police budget was $98,011,400.

“This represents a net increase of $3,244,300 (3.3 per cent) in the approved operating budget from 2024/25,” the package reads. “This includes funding to implement and staff a Digital Evidence Management System, Body-Worn Cameras, and In-Car Cameras, an initiative which will improve operational readiness, efficiency, and effectiveness.

“There are no requests for additional police officer positions within the proposed 2025/26 HRP operating budget. Instead, our focus is on adding civilian positions which would provide essential operational and organizational support.”

The proposed enhancements to services in the budget would include:

• two victim services case workers
• a forensic media specialist
• a culture and support manager
• an auditor
• a second quartermaster
• an administrative assistant for the Police Science Program

“There is growing recognition of how critically important it is to address domestic violence,” the package reads. “The additional Victim Services Case Workers would be assigned to the area of domestic violence to provide support to victims and work with offenders to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

“The estimated costs of the proposed service enhancements for 2025/26 are $462,300 (0.46 per cent of the proposed budget). Should these not be approved, the proposed 2025/26 operating budget would be $100,793,400.”

The Halifax Regional Police, which is the largest municipal police force in Atlantic Canada, has an “authorized strength” of 565 officers, according to the package.

The Board of Police Commissioners met on Wednesday to discuss the proposed budget.

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