Rural residents and people who live in small towns and villages are going to pay more for policing.

Friday, the provincial government announced it will increase RCMP rates by 8 per cent beginning April 1.

The rate hikes effect rural municipalities and urban municipalities with populations of less than 5,000.

According to a news release, the current rate for municipalities with a RCMP detachment is $52.25 per capita. Come April, this will go up by $4.20 to $56.65 per capita. Municipalities without a detachment currently pay $32.45 per capita for RCMP policing, but will see their rates increase by $2.60 to $35.05 per capita.

This means ratepayers in Craik, which has a RCMP detachment will see their policing bill go from $23,759.85 to $25,662.45, based on a population of 453, according to the 2011 Census.

Davidson’s policing bill will go from $33,261.25 to $35,926.25, based on the population of 1,025 from the 2011 Census.
The rate increase will raise about $1.3 million.

In the news release, the province states the current fee structure hasn’t changed since 2006, meanwhile RCMP policing costs in Saskatchewan have increased by 57 per cent. According to the news release, the province spent $149.7 million on RCMP policing.