Local budgets are shelling out big bucks for RCMP services. The provincial rules for how RCMP services are funding are coming into question by local councilors. Towns or cities with populations of over 5000 people are required to pay a large majority of the RCMP services. In Bonnyville and St. Paul the bill has come to 1.3 million dollars annually, while Cold Lake’s services ring in 1.8 million. The cost is taking its toll on local budgets prompting councilors in Bonnyville to spearhead a lobbying campaign to have the funding guidelines changed to only include services used for the higher population as a responsibility of the city or town.
