At its Monday meeting, Courtenay council approved in principle a 2017/18 policing contract exceeding $6 million. It would provide for a full-time complement of 31.4 RCMP members — one member more than 2016/17. Courtenay is responsible for 90 per cent of the contract ($5,418,651).
At present, of 61 RCMP members in the Valley, Courtenay funds 30.4, Comox 11.6 and the Province 19.
Council will revisit the proposal during 2017 budget deliberations before granting final approval by May.