Layoffs may need to be considered to balance the police budget, according to a city councilor who sits on the Police Services Board.
A preliminary operating budget request for Toronto Police in 2012 rings in at roughly $970 million.
That's up 4.2 per cent from 2011.
The city has asked the police to cut spending by 10 per cent as the city faces a budget shortfall of more that $770 million.
Roughly 90 per cent of the current police budget goes to benefits, salaries and overtime.
Coun. Michael Thompson says that layoffs may need to be considered.
"I don't want to say it, but I think it has to be said that at some point, we may have to look at reducing the number of officers," Thompson said.
"At the same time, we have to provide a safe environment for the residents of Toronto."
Thompson added that crime rates are down across the city in all categories except for unsolved cases.
With files from CTV Toronto's Alicia Markson
