The Surrey Police Board is releasing further information on its 2024 Surrey Police Service (SPS) provisional budget to provide clarity, transparency, and accountability during the transition from an RCMP detachment to a municipal police department.

The budget, provided to the City of Surrey on November 30, 2023, was developed with guidance from Jessica McDonald, Strategic Implementation Advisor, and with support from Deloitte, an independent accounting firm. 

The total 2024 budget is $141.5 million. Based on the City of Surrey’s current financial reports, the 2024 provisional budget fits within the City of Surrey’s financial framework and accounts for only 42% of their allocated policing funds. The 2024 provincial budget includes:

• $119.5 million for ongoing operations
• $6.6 million for equipment and capital expenditures
• $15.4 million for investments through the previously established Policing Transition Project Fund.

Based on this budget, by the end of 2024, SPS will have 526 police officers, making up approximately 67% of the City’s targeted policing strength for 2024.

“The budget is predicated on the growth of Surrey Police Service and the corresponding winding down of the RCMP. The efficient and orderly transition to SPS follows the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and will reduce transition costs by eliminating the administrative overlap of running two police agencies in Surrey,” said Mike Serr, Surrey Police Board Administrator. “There is a lot of misinformation on the policing costs in the City of Surrey, and I believe that budget transparency is important for the people of Surrey to understand the costs and the transition plans for SPS.”

The budget was based on several key planning assumptions, including:

• The same organizational structure and number of officers as is currently in place with the RCMP
• Alignment with City policing objectives and performance measures
• Cooperation from the RCMP to ensure that RCMP deployment and costs will reduce in tandem with the growth of SPS
• Two-and-a-half years remaining in the transition period from RCMP to SPS
• RCMP costs will be reduced as SPS operations are ramped up
• Budget alignment with the current City of Surrey Financial Plan and on available one-time financial resources

SPS is currently made up of 346 police officers and the 2024 budget allocates a hiring target of 180 additional police officers, which would bring the total number of SPS officers to 526 by the end of 2024.

“The Board remains committed to transparency and open dialogue and will take every step available to make sure people are heard and, most importantly, kept safe through this transition,” said Mr. Serr. “I have an open and standing offer to brief the Surrey City Council on this budget submission and to have open discussions about any amendments. To date, this invitation to discuss this budget proposal has not been accepted.”

Of the 180 new police officers, SPS is targeting 135 experienced officers from across Canada and 45 recruits that will be trained at the Justice Institute of British Columbia.  

LEARN MORE:

• 2024 Surrey Police Service Provisional Budget PowerPoint Presentation
• Surrey Police Transition - 2024 Provisional Budget Report Supported by Deloitte

 BACKGROUND:

• The Surrey Police Board was appointed on June 29, 2020, as an independent body from both City Council and the Province, providing civilian oversight to Surrey Police Service.
• Under the terms of the Police Act, the Police Board must submit a 2024 provisional budget to their respective City Council by November 30, 2023. This was done in Surrey on Nov. 30, 2023.
• The Board has until March 1, 2024, to make any amendments to the budget for re-submission.