Regional Councillor Report
Submitted by:
Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4
Regional Budget Approval - April 13,
2005
The Regional Budget is slated for approval
at the Regional Council meeting on April 13th.
The budget being recommended to Council for Regional
Operations, the Police Services Board, Outside Agencies and
Provincial Downloaded Services requires a total net property tax
requirement of $329,046,824 and represents a property tax
increase of 6.22%.
When combined with the 2005 solid waste management
property tax requirement this represents a 5.82%
Regional property tax impact.
This translates to a $98.00 increase for an average
residential home (valued at CVA of $250,000.00)
A contribution
from the rate stabilization reserve fund of $2,070,280.00
mitigates the impact of Regional Transit Expenditures totaling
$8.4 million, with $3,786,530.00 designated for the transit transition
costs.
Health & Social Services
Public Health Budget
The budget as presented by the Health
Department continued to receive support from the Health and
Social Services Committee however the Finance Committee reduced
the budget by $365,000.00 eliminating 6.75 positions and
an Associate Medical Officer of Health position.
Dr. Kyle, Medical Officer of Health
recommended the proposed budget in order to
improve local public health capacity and achieve or
maintain compliance with the Mandatory Health Programs and
Services Guidelines and other requirements of the Health
Protection and Promotion Act.
Correspondence received from Dr. Sheila Basrur, Chief
Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy Minister dated
Dec. 9, 2004 stated that ANew provincial funding is intended to
enhance the total funding available for public health in order
to improve local public health capacity and the Province expects
municipalities to contribute their full share to this important
area of public service.@
Previously the public health budget was
cost shared on a 50/50 basis.
January 1, 2005 this was increased to 55% province, 45%
municipalities. In
2006 this will increase to 65% and in 2007 the provincial share
will be 75%.
A number of reports since the SARS crisis indicated the
need for a renewal of public health and additional resources to
restore Ontario=s
essential public health promotion and protection functions.
Reports received by the Committee indicated
areas in which compliance to the minimum health guidelines will
not be met. Other
reports showing statistics on disease and risk factors for disease
indicated that in a number of areas Durham=s
population was showing increased risk and disease when compared to
the Provincial average. The
proposed positions cut from the health budget by the Finance
Committee were positions proposed to attain compliance and address
public health concerns.
Motion:
That the Town of Ajax supports the
inclusion in the 2005 Regional budget the staffing complement of
cost shared positions recommended by the Health Department in
order to achieve and/or maintain compliance with the Mandatory
Health Programs and Services Guidelines as well as the
requirements under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Emergency Hostel Funding
Health & Social Services Committee
recommended to the Finance Committee that an allocation of
$133,590.00 representing a $3.00 increase in the per diem rate for
hostels and shelters be provided
to assist agencies such as Denise House, Sedna Women=s
Shelter, Muslim Welfare Home
and Cornerstone Community Services to meet their financial
obligations while providing shelter for the homeless in the
Region. . Depending
on the range of services offered the actual costs range between
$47.00 and $73.00. This
recommended increase would supplement the current 80% provincial
to 20% Regional cost shared maximum per diem of $39.15, by
providing additional Regional funding.
The City of Toronto increased the per diem to
$47.00 as has Halton Region to $48.00.
Waterloo provides an operating grant of $290,375.00 to area
hostels to offset the operating deficits.
Cornerstone advises that their operating
reserves have been completely eroded and they expect to end this
year with a $9000.00 deficit.
The YWCA is expecting a
deficit of approximately $100,000.00.
This proposed $3.00 per diem increase amounts to
$133,590.00 and was a minimal increase
when compared to those provided for emergency hostel beds
offered in other Regions.
Finance Committee did not support this
allocation being included in the 2005 Regional Budget.
Motion:
That
the Town of Ajax support the inclusion in the 2005 Regional budget
of $133,590.00 to reflect additional hostel per diem funding in
the amount of $3.00 per bed per day for hostel providers.@
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