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continued from p.1 come back to the board with what those designs may look like." The other $150,000 would be used to replace a Halton police drone, which Tanner emphasized is used for photography and not surveillance. Police have previously used their drone to locate outdoor marijuana grow-ops. Another $1.8 million is required to replace existing police vehicles, while $930,000 will be allocated for technology, such as software programs and security measures for police computer systems. The budget also calls for the hiring of one staff Police budget stays within 3.6 per cent increase guideline sergeant for the police service's Organizational Wellness Unit and four sergeants to provide prisoner oversight for the police service's central lock-up. The HRPS is also requesting funds to hire three new civilian members, including one cyber-crime technician, one mental health social worker and one junior law clerk. When broken down, $127.2 million of the requested budget goes towards compensation, $6.3 million is needed for materials and supplies, $7.5 million is required for purchased services, $300,000 goes towards financial costs, such as rent, $2 million for interdepartmental charges and $6.7 million for finance costs/reserve transfers. The $139.7-million budget is $4.9 million greater than the 2015 police budget of $134.8 million. This represents an increase of 3.6 per cent, which Tanner noted is in keeping with an increase restriction guideline brought forward by Regional staff. "There has been a lot of work and discussions that have gone on behind the scenes to get the budget down to the Regional guideline of 3.6 per cent," said Tanner. "I'm pleased to present that to the board, which they approved today. That allows us to move forward with the hiring of five new officers and three new civilians and we will redeploy some others with some salary dollars that we have available. That will certainly help us in 2016 to continue to be adequate and effective." Tanner noted Halton police have the lowest officer per capita ratio (1.24 per 1,000 population), the lowest staff to population ratio (1.77 per 1,000 population), and lowest cost per capita at $245 when compared to neighbouring police services. Despite these figures, Tanner noted, Halton has been named the safest region in Canada eight years in a row by Maclean's magazine. 15 | Friday, October 23, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Whether you call it drywall, gypsum wallboard or sheetrock, it's all 100% recyclable to us. Documentation for LEED certification is available. Gypsum is a true closed-loop product, designed for your safety and to be infinitely recycled in to new drywall. 905-847-0520 www.nwgypsum.com Located just off the QEW at 2182 WYECROFT ROAD, OAKVILLE Thank-you oakville! PLATINUM CREATE YOUR DREAM h t a B r o n e Kitch Cruise CoMPaNy 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE | QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP | CUSTOM DESIGNS Call for a Free Estimate TICO# 4537114 ON REG# 970855995 905-844-3332 Visit our showroom: 333 Wyecroft Rd. Unit 3, Oakville Cruise Holidays of oakville 221 Lakeshore Road East · 905-337-2228 info@cruiseholidaysoakville.com www.cruiseholidaysoakville.com www.aromakitchens.ca