North Bay Police Services Board in a deficit position

North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine says the police services board ended 2016 with a $359,000 deficit.

The major reason was a WSIB surcharge of $292,000.

Devine says in June the province changed the legislation affecting emergency service workers who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Presumptive PTSD, and they didn’t become aware of the cost implications until November.

He also says there was an insurance issue with the city of $45,000 and an additional $20,000 for two projects being over budget.

Moving forward Devine says they are working with the city to find savings this year and to work on putting in a line item in the budget on WSIB payments.

They’ve also moved $68,000 from the surplus, reducing the current deficit to $280,000.