Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has invoked special mayoral powers to remove $5.7 million in police facility financing costs from the city’s proposed 2026 budget, citing the need for fiscal restraint and long-term financial stability. Bradley states the police budget has already increased by 37.75% over this term of council. The new police facility—projected at over $120 million—would […]
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has invoked special mayoral powers to remove $5.7 million in police facility financing costs from the city’s proposed 2026 budget, citing the need for fiscal restraint and long-term financial stability.
Bradley states the police budget has already increased by 37.75% over this term of council. The new police facility—projected at over $120 million—would have required annual payments of at least $5.7 million for the next 30 years, resulting in a property tax increase of approximately 6.33% in 2026, with compounding impacts for decades.
Bradley said the proposal failed to consider inflation, fluctuating interest rates, collective agreement costs, or the financial needs of other community services. He also noted that between 2010 and 2021, nearly $1.5 million was spent on maintaining and upgrading the current police building, which is less than 40 years old.
Since 2022, when Chief Davis was hired, Bradley said the Sarnia Police Service has not prioritized capital upgrades to the existing facility, spending more than $40,000 in 2025 on the replacement project instead.
He added that the proposed new building lacks a finalized cost, scope, and location, and the research and analysis remain incomplete. The plan also does not address the costs of decommissioning the current facility or the likelihood that the total could exceed the budget by millions.
Bradley also raised concerns about recent statements linking the proposed facility to potential policing beyond Sarnia’s borders. He noted that no formal interest has been expressed by neighbouring municipalities and that city council has never endorsed expanding police services outside Sarnia.
“Any future plans for police infrastructure must be focused solely on the needs of Sarnia residents,” Bradley said in his report.
Council will review the updated draft budget later this month.
