Survey now available as town gathers feedback about plan to expand municipal police force to all wards
Woodstock council, staff and police force officials want to hear town residents’ opinions concerning the proposed expansion of the municipal police force to the entire community.
The town is asking residents to complete a detailed survey and attend planned public forms to ascertain the public’s viewpoint on the police expansion, which will include a significant tax hike for former LSD property owners.
The Woodstock Police Force currently patrols only Ward 4, Woodstock’s former town boundaries. The Western Valley RCMP presently provides policing to Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5.
“The Town of Woodstock is considering a proposal to extend its policing services to the former local service districts, now Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5, that were amalgamated due to Local Governance Reform,” the town explained in a message directed to all residents. “Specifically, the initiative aims to build on existing partnerships, prioritize police visibility, and address community safety concerns through clearly defined and publicly communicated strategic planning objectives.”
The town release detailed the proposed police expansion’s impact on taxpayers in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5. It explained that the proposal would include a 15-cent tax hike spread equally over three years, from 2025 to 2027, for property owners in the outlying wards.
Ward 4 residents would not face a police-related tax hike over that period.
“The tax rate for outside Wards in 2027 would therefore be 85 cents,” the town statement explained. “That is a 15 cent increase total on the current 70 cent rate for all outside wards.”
The town explained that a five-cent increase on a house assessed at $200,000 would cost an additional $100 per year in property taxes.
Woodstock residents would have two options to complete the survey between July 4 and 18.
They can find the survey online at https://forms.gle/xLT6NHSPiRw4nBH88 or pick up a paper copy at the town hall or the AYR Motor Centre.
The L.P. Fisher Public Library offers computer availability to residents without online access.
Following the survey, the town will host public forums to allow residents to ask questions and learn more details about the policing issue. The town will announce the time, date, and location of those forums at a later date.
Residents can find a detailed information sheet outlining details about the proposed policing model at https://woodstock.allnetconnect.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files¤tFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=Town%20of%20Woodstock%20Policing%20Proposal%20Summary.pdf
The plan calls for expanding police services to include Wards 4 and 5 by Oct. 1, 2025, then adding Ward 3 on Oct. 1, 2025, and finally completing the expansion to all five wards by Oct. 1, 2027.
Over the three-year expansion, the WPF would increase staffing levels from its current 24 officers and 10 support staff. In October 2025, the police will employ 33 officers and 17 support staff, then jump to 40 officers and 22 support staff by October 2026, before finalizing staffing with 45 officers and 25 support staff in 2027.
