With County townships learning they may be on the hook for another 11 per cent increase in OPP costs, the Haliburton Highlands detachment board has written minister of rural affairs, Lisa Thompson, and commissioner, Thomas Carrique, seeking an update on the province’s review of the OPP cost recovery model.
Board chair Andrew Fletcher said the intent of the letter was also to seek clarity on the ministry’s and OPP’s plan to address the growing cost of policing for rural communities.
Solicitor general Michael Kerzner told townships Aug. 14, the province had confirmed no OPP-policed municipality will see its total base policing costs rise by more than 11 per cent compared to 2026 in 2027.
The Haliburton County-generated correspondence reads, “rural municipalities recognize and value the essential role of the OPP in protecting residents, supporting victims, responding to emergencies, and maintaining public safety across large geographic areas.
“At the same time, many rural and small municipalities are experiencing significant and ongoing budget pressures related to OPP billing. These pressures are particularly difficult in communities with limited assessment growth, aging infrastructure, and competing demands for housing, roads, emergency services, health and social supports and community safety initiatives,” Fletcher wrote on behalf of the board.
He added they appreciate the province committing to reviewing the OPP cost recovery model, including work to inform the 2026 annual billing statements; and acknowledge provincial relief measures intended to offset recent increases for small and rural municipalities.
However, he said short-term mitigation does not replace the need for “a sustainable, transparent, and equitable billing framework that reflects the realities of rural policing.”
The board is asking for an update on the status and outcome of the review, including: the key findings and recommendations; how municipal and detachment board feedback was considered; any changes expected to the billing methodology, including the treatment of calls for service, base service costs, overtime, court security, and prisoner transportation; the projected impact of any changes on rural and small municipalities; the timeline for communicating final decisions to municipalities and detachment boards; and the longer-term plan to ensure OPP policing remains financially sustainable for rural communities while maintaining public safety standards.
“We further encourage the ministry and OPP to continue working directly with municipalities, OPP detachment boards, and municipal associations to develop a funding approach that is predictable, understandable, and responsive to the unique challenges of rural Ontario,” the board chair said.
Fletcher added a fair cost recovery model should recognize rural municipalities often have fewer taxpayers over larger service areas, a limited ability to absorb sudden increases, and complex community safety needs that extend beyond traditional enforcement.
“Policing is a shared priority. We are committed to supporting effective local governance, constructive dialogue, and collaborative solutions that protect both community safety and municipal fiscal sustainability. Timely information about the review and the province’s next steps will assist our board and member municipalities in planning responsibly and communicating clearly with residents.”
The letter was CC’d to Kerzner, MPP Laurie Scott, local councils, AMO and ROMA.
