VandeGraaf defends Cobourg Police Budget
Cobourg Police Station. Courtesy of Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News
By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative.
Cobourg Police Chief Paul Vandegraff is defending his 2026 budget proposal, which calls for an increase of 20.5 percent compared to this year.
During the Police Board regular meeting this morning VandeGraaf said the budget has gone under the microscope to ensure efficiency. Two residents spoke during public comments asking for savings from court costs, IT and the hiring process.
While court costs are expected to go from approximately $540,000 to $900,000 next year, VandeGraaf was passionate in saying this cost reflects what is needed to properly investigate, document and prepare each case from arrest to verdict.
“At the end of the day, the cost for court administration is going up. As is the technology to be adequate and effective. We are meeting the requirements imposed upon us by the Attorney General to ensure we are not sued for negligent investigation,” VandeGraaf said.
Much of the court costs are recoverable through the province, municipality or other funding sources, with VandeGraaff explaining that is not a line item in which you can save much money.
The proposed budget is nearly $9.5 million, up $1.6 million from 2025. At a special board meeting last week, the Chief explained that the increased budget is reflected in wage enhancements, staffing costs and what is needed to provide provincially mandated policing to Cobourg.
“I need to know that the officers' work that they do at 1 o’clock in the morning sees the light of the day at the end eight weeks, ten weeks at a successful conviction. We do not want to be in a place where charges are being dismissed because we didn’t get our work done,” VandeGraaf explained.
While VandeGraaf states there is no discretionary funding in the budget estimate, there is actually little room to bring down costs. In July Mayor Lucas Cleveland through his Strong Mayor Powers designation capped the police budget at four percent. It's not clear whether more cost saving will be ordered. The Ontario Provincial Police Budget too is increasing by 11 percent for Northumberland County.
