Belleville City Council voted to receive the 2025 South East Health Unit budget.
Back in February, council had the health unit budget presented to them as part of discussions on the 2025 Operating Budget.
In a recorded vote, council voted against the health unit budget as proposed due to the City of Belleville’s portion for the health unit exceeding what the city had initially approved.
Belleville approved $1,238,300 but the SEHU approved $1,307,500 for the city’s portion, a difference of $69,200.
At its meeting Monday, council looked at a virtually unchanged budget.
“I know it’s only $69,000 but the frustrating part is that we’re not really seeing any identified savings or efficiencies per se, and certainly not on the budget front,” Councillor Paul Carr said during the meeting.
Councillor Sean Kelly, who sits on the board of the South East Health Unit, said he would bring concerns from council to the health unit’s next meeting.
“The mayor and I did meet with Dr. (Piotr) Oglaza, Chair (Jan) O’Neill, but the questions that have been raised around the table here this afternoon, I will take it back to the next meeting, which is in another week and a half, so I can bring those up and get some answers for the next council meeting.” Kelly said.
The next steps for the health unit budget will see it go to the Finance Committee where they will determine a funding strategy.
In line with the city’s Surplus & Deficit Management policy and the Reserve Fund policy, the appropriate funding strategy recommendation will be to utilize the Tax Rate Stabilization reserve fund.
