Hastings County treasurer Sue Horwood and Acting Chief of Emergency Services John O’Donnell present the 2016 budget to the Hastings Quinte Joint Emergency Services committee, March 9, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Hastings-Quinte Joint Emergency Measures Service committee has set a 2016 budget with a 4.8% increase for the municipalities.
At its budget meeting today, the committee heard a report that the ambulance Code Three and Four calls and the total number of calls have both jumped 5%.
Acting Chief of Emergency Services John O’Donnell.
Hastings County treasurer Sue Horwood said that the joint services, including social services, 911, and Long Term Care, would mean that Belleville would see a 1.4% hike, but Belleville Councillor Egerton Boyce said the 4.8% for EMS is a “hard pill to swallow.”
Belleville’s share would be $3.08 million, Hastings County’s share would be $2.2 million, and Quinte West’s share would be $2.1 million.
The budget now goes to Belleville, Hastings County and Quinte West for approval.
