The new mayor could push for a cut in the police budget to make up for a big budget gap, but it’s unlikely that she will. In the spirit of Toronto’s long history of communities resisting the harms of policing, however, grassroots groups are campaigning for her to make that choice.
In December, the Toronto Police Services Board unanimously endorsed the request by the police for a 1.7 per cent (or $20 million) increase in funding for 2024. By the end of January, the police’s $1.2 billion total budget is likely to pass the city’s budget committee, maybe with minor changes. Then it will be considered in the overall municipal budget by city council in February.
The police are currently in collective bargaining, negotiating with the city for a new contract, and any resulting salary increases will also be added to this total.
Where will the money go?
The police say the increase in funds will be spent on…
Read the full article on the state of defund the police organizing in Toronto at The Grind.