County to Share Court Security and Prisoner Transportation Costs with the City Beginning in 2025

Grey County will begin sharing court security and prisoner transportation costs at the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice with the City of Owen Sound in 2025. Currently in Ontario, these court expenses are the sole responsibility of the local municipality. 

In 2024, Owen Sound anticipates a $229,440 court security and prisoner transportation program shortfall. Because the courts in Owen Sound serve the entire region and because these costs are rising and putting an unfair burden on the City of Owen Sound ratepayers, Grey County Council voted to create a cost-sharing agreement with the City. 

As part of the 2023 Service Review, Council had approved 49 initiatives under six broad themes. Service Review action 3B5, under the theme of negotiating cost-sharing opportunities, was to “Build a business case that can be shared with the Province to review critical funding needs for Court Security.” 

The City of Owen Sound and the Owen Sound Police Service have worked to find service efficiencies.  They have taken the initiative to lead numerous delegations and submit correspondence to the Province requesting that costs associated with court security and prisoner transportation be fully transferred to the Province or that the Province re-evaluate the provincial transfer payment program to better accommodate the financial needs of municipal police services that fulfill these mandated services. Grey County and the City will continue to collaborate on future advocacy to the province to change this funding system, which is unique to Ontario.

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca 

Quotes:

“Being collaborative and working together on issues that face us all is valuable to the establishment and longevity of important services. Combining costs and efforts with our neighbours benefits us all, and the City continues to prioritize such partnerships and agreements.”
- Owen Sound Mayor, Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:
• The Community Safety and Policing Act states that police services are responsible for the security of courthouses within their jurisdiction. 
• The Owen Sound courthouse is a consolidated courthouse housing both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, which provides Court Services for a wider region.
• In 2023, the Owen Sound taxpayer was responsible for the $236,233 shortfall between costs related to court security and prisoner transportation and the provincial transfer amounts. 
• In 2023 the Provincial transfer covered 60% of the City costs. 

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