Calgary police face a $28M budget gap due to photo radar limits, potentially impacting services and staffing.
The province limits photo radar use, mainly to school and playground zones. The province wants photo radar to protect people, not serve as a cash source.
The police are worried about the budget and looking for ways to save money. Most of their money goes to salaries, so they paused hiring civilian staff and will limit overtime spending.
The police may not slow down officer recruitment, as the city is growing and they need officers. It may get harder to recruit later and cuts could affect police services.
Reduced funding may decrease police coverage. A professor said the police are top-notch and wondered if they should give that up, just because of the photo radar changes.
A commission said traffic enforcement should ensure safety and not just generate revenue. The commission will work with various levels of government to manage the financial effects.
Alberta’s Transportation Minister disagrees, saying police should fund themselves otherwise and that municipalities should deal with police funding. He believes ticket revenue should not be the main source.
Property taxes mainly fund Calgary police. Fines provided $34 million in 2023, and the police budgeted $47 million from fines in 2024. The police want to solve the issue quickly.
The police will ask city council for more money and are also asking staff for ideas. They want to be helpful with ways to reduce spending.
