The Nelson Police department is stretched too thin and needs to up its officer count from 17 to 19.
Chief Wayne Holland says even if council agrees to a $300,000 annual budget increase for two more officers and an administrative staffer his department will still be behind other comparable communities.
Holland says the department is funded on taxation from a population of 10,000 and does not factor the extra 6,000 people from the regional district who spend their day and many nights in the Queen City.
He says policing should take that into account – just like the (shared funding) for the Rec centre or the library.
Nelson council will ponder the budget request early next year.