The Halifax Regional Police budget for next year is expected to hold steady with this year's budget.

Next year's proposed budget is just under $72 million and no services will have to be cut, Chief Frank Beazley said.

At a special board of police commissioners meeting Monday, Beazley said extra funds were no longer needed to cover a witness protection program and new civilian staff for special wiretap surveillance projects.

He'd asked for $500,000 to cover those programs in February, but said money was freed up from a surplus in another area.

A reserve will be topped up for any extra funds needed next year, he said.

"By putting some additional money from the police surplus this year into the extraordinary reserve account, and then we'll only go to that money if we need the money," Beazley said.

In January, Beazley said the mounted horses unit and bike units may be cut to save about $160,000. By February, he said the money had been found to save those units.

Next year's budget includes a call to rein in police overtime.

"We were given the challenge to reduce overtime at the beginning of this budget by 10 per cent," Beazley told CBC News.

"We've achieved that challenge, and we may even come in with less overtime spent this year than last year, depending on what happens in the next month."

The proposed police budget will head to Halifax regional council and the overall budget debate at the end of the month.

Councillors on the board told CBC News they believe their colleagues will be content with a recommendation that includes no increase to the budget.