The Town of La Ronge is moving ahead with a plan to increase the number of RCMP officers in the community.

A proposal has been finalized that would see three more Mounties hired, with the town paying for 70 per cent of the cost and the Saskatchewan government covering the remaining 30 per cent.

Other options considered were to hire community safety officers or to form a municipal police department.

La Ronge town councillor Dallas Everest says it is now up to the provincial government to approve the memorandum of understanding.

“They have to look over it, they have to OK it,” he said. “As soon as they OK it, they have one year in which to fill those positions.”

So far, the town has not provided an estimate of what the total cost would be.

Everest says if the proposal is approved, the funding from the province would be part of the budget for the next fiscal year.

He also says the three new RCMP members would be strictly for the Town of La Ronge.

(PHOTO: La Ronge town councillors meet. File photo.)