The New Westminster Police Department is asking for a $2.6-million increase to its 2027 operating budget, a proposal police financial staff say would amount to about a 6.98 per cent rise in the department’s overall budget and translate to an estimated 2.5 per cent increase in property taxes for the city.
What the money would fund
At a July meeting of the police board, the department’s financial team outlined how the additional funding would be used. Of the $2,661,000 in new funding requested for 2027, the package is divided into two main components:
- $2,181,000 for non-discretionary enhancements — described as collective agreement salary and benefits, funding for the patrol division and contracted services for E-Comm and integrated teams. Police staff say these non-discretionary items represent a 5.72 per cent increase to the NWPD budget.
- $489,000 for discretionary enhancements — including proposals such as an information technology manager, a patrol constable, a crime analyst and gang suppression initiatives. This group of items totals about 1.26 per cent of the budget.
Reasons behind the request
Jacqueline Dairon, manager of financial services for the police department, told the board some of the budget proposals were shaped by staff morale and operational reviews. She said a 2026 employee survey indicated that
“burnout was high”and that the department needed to bolster supports for its staff.
In addition, the 2025 operating review of the patrol division and a 2026 information technology review pointed to areas where resources were insufficient. Those assessments, Dairon said, have helped frame the current request for additional positions and contracted services.
How this year compares with recent increases
The proposed increase comes after several years of sizeable budget growth at the NWPD. Between 2017 and 2022, annual increases were relatively modest, ranging from 2.36 to 5.04 per cent, with an average of about 3.37 per cent. Beginning in 2023 the department recorded significantly larger increases: 10.07 per cent in 2023, 10.35 per cent in 2024, followed by 9.93 per cent in 2025 and 9.44 per cent in 2026.
Dairon characterised those larger increases as a response to mounting pressures. In her remarks to the board she said:
“You can see relatively modest increases from 2017 to 2022, where the average was 3.37 [per cent]. In about 2023, we really recognized the staff burnout. We started to look towards building our strength, and we had an average of 9.87 [per cent].”
Board endorsement and next steps
At the July meeting the police board unanimously endorsed the strategic direction for the 2027 operating budget. That endorsement moves a preliminary plan forward for consideration by city council as part of the broader municipal budgeting process.
City councillors and budget staff will now weigh the NWPD request alongside competing demands for municipal funding, including infrastructure, parks, housing supports and other city services. Any decision on the police budget will be reflected in the city’s overall tax-and-budget package for 2027.
| Item | Amount | Percent of NWPD budget |
|---|---|---|
| Non-discretionary enhancements | $2,181,000 | 5.72% |
| Discretionary enhancements | $489,000 | 1.26% |
| Total requested increase | $2,661,000 | 6.98% |
For New Westminster households, the key figure to watch will be the city’s final tax bylaw, expected during the fall budget process. The police department’s estimate that its request equates to a 2.5 per cent property tax increase provides an early signal of potential impacts on residential tax bills, but final figures will depend on decisions taken by council and the overall municipal budget envelope.
As council considers the police department’s proposal, residents and community groups with an interest in public safety, staffing and municipal spending will likely press for clarity on how new positions and services will change frontline policing, response times and long-term operating costs.
