A Hastings-Quinte committee is recommending a social services 2019 budget increase of just under 2%.
This recommendation of the Community and Human Services committee on Wednesday was not without some controversy.
The budget is being recommended to Hastings County council at $17.2 million, a 1.8% increase over last year.
Just as the budget presentation began, Belleville Councillor Bill Sandison introduced a motion, seconded by Belleville Councillor Chris Malette, to cut $500,000 but gave no specific items to cut.
Sandison said, “The budget should be brought back to the 2018 (level).”
Referring to Belleville’s share of the cost, Malette said, “It was ever thus for Belleville…. Woe is us to carry the lion’s share… This lion’s getting tired… It’s our duty to find savings.”
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, sitting in for a Quinte West member who was absent, commented about the motion, “That’s not fair. You’ve got to be specific.”
The motion failed.
During the staff presentation, Director of Community and Human Services Erin Rivers noted that most of the housing was from the 1970s and 1980s era.
She said, “They were hard hit by a bed bug infestation last year.”
Director of Finance Sue Horwood indicated “There’s some comfort in that the biggest item, Ontario
Works, is not expected to change.” She added that there is no provincial money for housing so that is not affected by the provincial budget.
Works, is not expected to change.” She added that there is no provincial money for housing so that is not affected by the provincial budget.
After a lengthy debate, the budget was recommended to Hastings County council for approval.
Following the meeting, CAO Jim Pine told a media scrum that the budget is mostly about housing and repairs, and “it’s not the same as patching potholes in roads.”
Pine says, “We have 1,433 housing units that the county owns and has to manage and most of those were built 20 or 30 years ago. Unfortunately we’re at the stage where we need to add more money into the capital budget, largely into housing, to deal with the facilities that we have. We’ve got to make sure the roofs are fixed and the sinks work. It just gets more expensive every year.”
He also mentioned that the new housing building with 40 units, Home For Good, should be ready to open in Belleville this fall.
Pine pointed to the fact municipalities also win through taxation when social housing is built, and Belleville has the most.
Belleville pays 40% of the social services budget with Quinte West and Hastings County picking up the rest.
Municipal apportionment of the 2019 budget cost: based on weighted assessment:
Belleville – $7,071,827 – 40.94%
Hastings County – $5,104,360 – 29.55%
Quinte West – $5,097,451 – 29.51%
Recommendations for total 2019 increases for five shared services, social services, emergency services, long
term care, provincial offences and 911, sit at 3.6%.
term care, provincial offences and 911, sit at 3.6%.
