POLICE BUDGET BASHED

Perilously Lean, Councillors Say

Winnipeggers will be in growing danger of rising gang and drug
activity this year if the city's budget -- now offering the police
service an increase of only half of what it's seeking -- is approved,
councillors say. The Winnipeg Police Association warns the spending
plan will leave the force short-staffed and under-equipped if cops
don't see a greater increase than the $2.6 million being proposed.

"It's a huge issue ... because we've got areas like our vice unit
running on skeleton crews," association president Loren Schinkel told
The Sun yesterday.

The 2004 operating budget has proposed a $2.6-million increase in the
police service's funding to give the force a total of $140.6 million.
But that hike is about $2.5 million short of the $5.1-million increase
the department has requested.

While the blueprint is far from a done deal, councillors Garth Steek
(River Heights-Fort Garry) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) are livid that
police might be shortchanged.

Of the force's proposal for a $5.1-million increase, Steek says, is a
$1.2-million allocation that would boost staffing to necessary levels.
He estimates that amount is what Mayor Glen Murray has spent pushing
his ambitious tax-reform plan.

Staff for Murray, who is on a two-week vacation, referred calls to
Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) who heads city hall's
protection committee. She couldn't be reached for comment.

Police Chief Jack Ewatski refused to comment on what Steek and
Schinkel said is a serious budget shortfall.