Status quo for policing services in city of Merritt

There will be no changes to policing services for the City of Merritt.

At Tuesday’s monthly City Council meeting, councilors voted 5-2 in maintaining the status quo, which allows the city to budget for 17 members.

“We appreciate that Mayor and Council have a very difficult role having to make decisions for our community,” said RCMP staff Sgt. Josh Roda.  “We are also thankful that we were able to provide them the facts to help them make their decision.”

Council was presented with five options during the budget process with option two and five the options garnering the most support.

Option two would have allowed the city to only budget for the number of members currently on strength. The recommendation would be for 15 members for a buffer in the budget should positions need to be filled. If the number of active members in the detachment remains at 14, this is an approximately 20 percent vacancy rate. For each member reduction, Council would see approximately 1.6 percent decrease in the tax rate with any surplus to be placed in a restricted reserve for protective services.

The fifth option was less detailed but more direct that the city “continue to budget for 17 members and any surplus would be placed in a restricted reserve for protective services.

“After having seen the data and heard the concerns expressed by citizens at the public sessions, many of them are afraid for their safety,” said Councilor Adam Etchart. “That’s why I support option five.”

Etchart was not alone in this reasoning as he was joined by Councilors Paul Petroczi, Dana Egan, Yvette Baxter, and Mayor Mike Goetz. Councilors Wendy Charney and Manuel Olguin voted against option five after recommending that as the city faces tight budgets and possible tax increases, they believed option two was more viable.

“In the end it was their decision to make and we respect that process,” added Sgt. Roda. “We are happy to see no changes to the current policing numbers, so we can continue to provide 24 hour policing to the community. ”

Concerned citizens can watch the council’s decision unfold by watching the Tuesday Feb 11 stream of Merritt City council at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDNDrCV_5jw