Saskatchewan rural municipalities and small urban centres will pay more for RCMP policing, effective April 1.
The province announced March 16 the cost would go up eight percent.
The increase will result in the per capita rate rising from $32.45 to $35.05 for communities with populations less than 5,000 that don’t have RCMP detachments, as well as RMs.
Communities of less than 5,000 people but with detachments will see $4.20 added to the existing $52.45 fee.
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president David Marit said RMs were expecting an increase because the fee hadn’t changed since 2006.
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“We know there is increased cost,” he said.
Premier Brad Wall had earlier said the province had been paying more for RCMP services but hadn’t collected more from municipalities.
The province’s cost has gone up 57 percent since 2006. Last year, the province spent $149.7 million for RCMP costs; $62.7 million of that went to municipalities with fewer than 5,000 people.
Those municipalities paid $13.2 million of that cost.
Policing minister Yogi Huyghebaert said municipalities are getting more money from revenue-sharing this year so should be able to cover the additional $1.3 million.
Some RMs have complained they need better service from the RCMP, but the minister said he can’t tell the force where to base officers.
“Tell me how many is enough,” he said. “One more would always be better.”
