OPP officials say it is going to take longer than expected to change how it bills municipalities.

The province asked the OPP to come up with a better way of billing the municipalities and it has been working on a system where municipalities would pay a base rate  for services and then a per call fee.

Lambton OPP Inspector Scott Janssens could not offer any specifics on what the new OPP billing model will mean to Brooke-Alvinston ratepayers when he appeared before council on July 24.  He said the recent provincial election has delayed things until at least the fall, if not longer.  But, he remains confident the new model will be a benefit the area.                                                                          “I think when it finally comes out, everybody in Lambton County should be quite happy,” he says.

In a letter earlier this year OPP Superintendent Rick Philbin says OPP-policed municipalities that currently pay more than $400 per household should see their policing costs drop. Brooke-Alvinston pays just under $600 per household for OPP policing.                                                                         Mayor Don McGugan is concerned, while the base cost may decrease, changes to costs for calls for service could eat up any potential savings.