"It's got to the point, like our cost for 2021, the estimated bill is jumping almost $400,000. You know, we're looking at about a 1.7 percent tax increase, just to cover the police services," said Mayor Dan Reynard.
Policing costs have been an issue in Kenora as far back as 2014. The Kenora Police Service was disbanded in 2009, with the OPP taking over all policing services in the city.
"You can negotiate a discount for OPP," Reynard said, noting it has been done in Sioux Lookout and Pickle Lake, two other communities in northwestern Ontario that have a high cost of policing. Ideally, a 30 per cent discount would really help the city, he said.