The Edmonton Police Commission (Commission) delegates to the Chief of Police (Chief), or their appointed designate, the ability to reallocate funds between account categories where necessary to achieve annual objectives or to reflect adjustments to annual objectives based on Commission and community requirements.
DEFINITIONS:
Emergency Expenditure: means an expenditure that could not have reasonably been anticipated and must be made to address a present or imminent event that is adversely affecting, or could adversely affect, the health, safety or welfare of people, or is or may reasonably be expected to cause damage to property or the environment.
Politically Sensitive Budget Reallocations: means that the media and/or public has or is expected to take an interest in the reallocation.
Guidelines:
- The Chief presents periodic reports to the Commission on the Edmonton Police Service’s (Service) budget and reports anticipated variances in the annual budget as soon as is practicable.
- The Chief must obtain approval from the Commission for any budget adjustments that exceed $3,000,000 per adjustment between existing programs or projects within and between the approved capital and/or operating budgets.
- All other budget adjustments under the $3,000,000 threshold are allowable as long as they align with the approved strategic plan and Annual Business Plan for the Service.
- Any budget adjustments under the $3,000,000 threshold that may be politically sensitive shall be brought to the Commission for awareness purposes only.
- The Chief, or their designate, may authorize and approve any necessary agreements for an emergency expenditure not in an approved budget that does not exceed $2,000,000 from any source of funds within the Service. The Chief must also report on the implications of any emergency expenditure authorized by this policy to the Commission as soon as practicable.
Procedures:
- The Commission’s Executive Director (ED) will align the threshold amount in Guideline #2 with any changes to the City of Edmonton’s City Administration Bylaw (Bylaw 16620) to ensure it remains at 60% of the threshold delegated to the City Manager.
- The Commission’s Executive Director (ED) will align the threshold amount in bullet #5 with any changes to the City of Edmonton’s City Administration Bylaw (Bylaw 16620) to ensure alignment with thresholds delegated to the City Manager.
- The ED will report to the Commission on any changes to the threshold amounts authorized by this policy.
References:
- City of Edmonton – City Administration Bylaw (Bylaw 16620)
Revised September 18, 2025