The Toronto Police Services Board approved the revised police budget during a vote on Thursday afternoon.

The force had requested $936 million from the city, an increase over the 2011 budget of $930 million.

After months of political manoeuvring, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, along with the Board, struck a deal with the city for the force’s 2012 budget. However, the budget still has to go to city council for final approval.

Blair has been outspoken in his criticism of Mayor Rob Ford’s request for a 10 per cent budget cut from all departments, saying a cut of that magnitude would mean layoffs.

At a Wednesday night meeting, the three sides worked out a deal that will see 4.6 per cent reduction from the 2012 budget, and 5.4 per cent trimmed from the 2013 budget.

“Today’s budget we have found a 4.6 per cent reduction and we did indicate to the chief at the last board meeting that we want the 10 per cent in the next two years, and that’s what he’s done,” said Toronto Police Services Board member Frances Nunziata.

Nunziata says this is the first time the board has presented the city with a reduced budget.

“What I’m very pleased to say is that there’s no layoffs, and that’s one that was very clear from the mayor and the public – we don’t want to layoff any officers, frontline officers. And I believe we will be able to achieve that 10 per cent in the next two years without doing that.”

A former member of the Police Services Board said Ford "blinked" when faced with Blair's demands.

“The police chief has called the mayor’s bluff. The mayor said 10 per cent or you’re fired and now the police are getting an increase to their budget and sadly the city’s getting fewer police officers on the street. It’s an unbelievably bad situation,” said Coun. Adam Vaughan.

"Backpedal? Forget staying the course, this guy has blinked, closed his eyes, and run in the opposite direction. Now we're paying more for less policing," Vaughan added.

The board will be hiring an outside consulting firm to come in and look for efficiencies at the city’s police force. A report will be out next year.

The 2012 budget includes eliminating 200 officers through attrition, no hiring of uniform officers for a second straight year, and a 10 per cent reduction in senior management positions.