WPS not to blame for officers’ pension shortfall and can’t help, acting chief says

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/09/2016 (3652 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Police Service is not responsible for a $3.7-million shortfall in the police pension plan, the acting chief says.

And Art Stannard said there is no room in the force’s budget to fill the gap.

“It wasn’t budgeted for and it’s too late in the year to even look at that,” he told reporters after Friday’s police board meeting.

An actuarial analysis revealed the pension plan needs $3.7 million to be at 100 per cent solvency, ensuring sufficient funds to pay out benefits to eligible members of the force

The police board agreed to request an additional appropriation from city council to cover the shortfall.

The WPS is already facing financial pressure: needing to trim $2.45 million to cover a last-minute deal with city council in March to avoid police layoffs, and dipping into reserve accounts to buy a new thermal imaging camera for its helicopter.

The force’s body-camera initiative has been put on hold to save $1 million, and Stannard said police have been chipping away at the remaining $1.45 million

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Stannard said WPS is meeting its expense targets, but revenues are down $5.3 million compared to this time last year. Most of the decline is a result of fewer photo enforcement traffic fines ($3.75 million) and lower-than-expected fines from other traffic infractions ($860,000).

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca