Laying down the law

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This article was published 10/09/2016 (3283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New police board member Derek Johannson is learning first-hand how his colleagues are keeping a close eye on board spending and how difficult it is to balance a budget that hinges on the public’s bad habits.

When Johannson, who was appointed by Mayor Brian Bowman to the board in February and now holds the post of budget and finance committee chairman, asked to attend a conference on police governance in Ottawa during the summer, he was told the board would cover the cost of registration, but he had to pay his own airfare and hotel.

“I love that. I actually respect that,” Johannson told members of the police board at a Friday meeting.

“As you look at the budget for the police board, you will see this police board staying within that budget because I think it’s so important for a board to model the type of behaviours that it wants others to follow.”

Johannson is chairman of Carlyle Printers and CEO of New World Technologies.

“I went to that conference, and it was a tremendous learning experience,” Johannson said.

He urged other board members to attend next year’s event. The conference, he said, was a tremendous opportunity to meet members of other police commissions and learn from their experiences.

Johannson noted in April he appreciated the difference in the goals and objectives of a public-sector agency such as the police board compared with the private sector.

He remarked that speeding offences were down — which is good for society but bad for the police budget. He reiterated that appreciation Friday, when he noted police revenue continues to decline, largely because police have issued fewer photo-radar and traffic tickets as motorists have adjusted to reduced speed limits.

“I really have come to realize how complicated and how challenging it is for board members and members of the (police) service to make this a partnership that really drives positive results for the citizens of Winnipeg,” he said.

“I don’t want to see our citizens speed. We want safer streets. So, if there’s less of that, that’s a good sign.”

Johannson said Manitoba legislation makes police boards responsible for police spending, but the decline in revenues is hurting the police budget.

“I would suggest it is important for us to focus on the expense side, where we can really have an impact.”

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca