Will the new budget slash Edmonton police spending? Mayor says likely not

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News Will the new budget slash Edmonton police spending? Mayor says likely not 'I think in the short term we'll continue to use the formula as currently built out' Author of the article: By Liam Newbigging Published Sep 10, 2026 Last updated 2 hours ago 3 minute read Join the conversation Mayor Andrew Knack speaks to the media about Edmonton's new economic development strategy on June 10, 2026. PHOTO BY DAVID BLOOM /Postmedia Article content Do Edmontonians want the city to spend more or less on the police? Article content That’s one of the questions circling city hall this week as council reviewed the results of a months-long city-wide budget survey. Article content Article content However, Mayor Andrew Knack said not to expect changes in police spending anytime soon. Article content “I think in the short term we’ll continue to use the formula as currently built out,” Knack said Wednesday. “I think there is a time where we need to actually have a conversation about broader community safety work, I don’t want to shy away from that.” Article content Article content Knack said when he’s door-knocking, safety is a top concern, and most people tend to want the police well-funded. However, he said the city should look into more “holistic” approaches to the issue. Article content Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Survey details schism on spending Article content A report on the budget survey, which included input from around 12,000 people across different online and in-person methods, said policing had some of the most “polarizing responses.” Article content Compared to other service categories, the topic ranked third overall for city residents. Thirteen per cent of businesses responding to open-ended questions also believed the city should spend more on police. Article content However, it was also a common area where residents called for cuts during in-person sessions and in open-ended questions online. Article content The budget tool, a surveying method that allows people to simulate managing the city’s revenues and expenses, also saw a large average reduction, according to the report. Results shared with…