‘The cost goes up, then the provincial payment for it goes down and the citizens here in Barrie are obligated to pay for $3 million of that deficit,’ says councillor
The city is looking to discuss with the county about who should cover what for court security and transporting prisoners at the Barrie courthouse.
During a general committee meeting on Wednesday night, councillors approved a motion for city staff to negotiate a separate agreement along with the updated – which is still being discussed – municipal shared services agreement, asking the County of Simcoe to provide funding to the City of Barrie for their share of costs related to court security and prisoner transport.
“The citizens of Barrie, our taxpayers, are paying 100 per cent of a cost that they really only should be paying 40 per cent of the cost for,” said Coun. Clare Riepma. “It’s clear that 60 per cent of the service is used by other places in the surrounding county.”
City council will review final approval of this motion at its Dec. 10 meeting, where they will also approve the operating and capital budgets for 2026, along with next year’s property tax increase.
The budget for Barrie Police Service in 2026 indicates a $3-million shortfall in provincial funding intended for court security and prisoner transportation grants at the Barrie courthouse.
The total cost is $5.3 million, while provincial funding amounts to $2.3 million. The city, via Barrie police, has to cover the $3-million difference.
The previous year’s shortfall was $2 million, followed by $1.8 million from two years ago.
Residents using the Barrie courthouse account for only 40 per cent.
“The cost goes up, then the provincial payment for it goes down and the citizens here in Barrie are obligated to pay for $3 million of that deficit,” Riepma said.
“We are paying a disproportionate amount of funds to serve the courts when it comes to court security and some of these transports,” said Coun. Gary Harvey.
Riepma did put forward a motion suggesting that Barrie’s contribution towards County of Simcoe’s budget be reduced by $1.8 million-this amount representing 60 per cent of courthouse security and transportation funding gap reflected in city police budget-and insisted that any new shared services agreement include coverage from the county for 60 per cent regarding these costs.
However, Riepma withdrew his motion later on.
“This funding isn’t part of this agreement that’s currently before council,” said Barrie CAO Michael Prowse, “nor is it part of past agreements. So there isn’t any way right now to set up some kind of cost-sharing arrangement related to courts, whether criminal or otherwise.”
The County of Simcoe provides various services including paramedics, homelessness prevention programs, long-term care beds, non-profit social housing options, Ontario Works support, children’s services assistance, Simcoe County Housing Corporation resources as well as community services and social housing provisions.
Barrie’s share of these costs would amount to $35 million in 2026-a rise from this year’s total which was $33.5 million-a jump reflecting an increase rate by about 4.4 percent.
“We need to think about how this relationship (with the county) benefits us,” stated Mayor Alex Nuttall. “We’re incurring significant expenses linked with social services within our city.”
“This situation leaves me infuriated.”
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