TORONTO, Ont. -  The police services board voted unanimously to approve the city’s target of a zero per cent increase to the police budget Monday.

The freeze also includes a promotion and hiring freeze.

Chief Bill Blair sought a two per cent increase in his revised operating budget.

“The only way to really make that type of reduction is to have fewer people on the payroll,” Chief Bill Blair said.

“My ability to have fewer people on the payroll is quite limited, especially since we’re already accounting for the fact that we’re not hiring.”

Blair has previously said the city’s cap on spending would mean laying off at least 137 uniformed officers and 52 civilians.

But board vice-chair Coun. Michael Thompson says the budget will not result in layoffs.

“This is an opportunity for us to be able to address some of the challenges that we’re facing in the city without actually having a negative impact on the safe and adequate policing of this particular city,” Thompson said.

“This budget does not cut officers.”"In fact, we’re not eliminating, we’re actually adding.”

He says there will be 80 police officers added to the force.

Blair says by the end of 2013, the city will be down over 300 officers as a result of hiring freeze and retirement.