Less than one percent increase for Island municipalities
ESPANOLA—Members of the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (DSB) are giving themselves a pat on the back this week as the board passed the DSB’s over $30 million budget with only a 0.86 percent increase to its member municipalities for services.
The board made a point of noting in its final resolution, however, that due to its commitment to the five-year EMS staffing plan (which in 2015 means an increase in staffing to the Killarney, Gogama and Folyet EMS bases) this created the 0.86 percent increase. Without this factor, the budget would have decreased by -0.13 percent.
The Territories Without Municipal Organization (TWOMO), of which Dawson and Robinson are a part, will see a rise of 1.59 percent in service costs, which are paid by the province.
Of the $30,525,483 budget, the municipal share is $11,280,264 or an increase over 2014 of 2.45 percent. The TWOMO share comes in at $174,800, or 1.59 percent, while the municipal share increase is $95,043 or 0.86 percent.
The following is a breakdown of the 2015 budget: Ontario Works, $7,541,747; Children’s Services, $5,030,677; Social Housing, $3,611,131; EMS, $14,441,091; and interest revenue, -$99,163 for a total of $30,525,483.
“I am happy to go back to my council and say ‘look, we’re finally getting it, we’re done’,” Central Manitoulin’s Derek Stephens said.
The final resolution to pass the budget was made by Mr. Stephens and seconded by Espanola councillor Jack McMillan.
DSB Chair Les Gamble thanked chief financial officer Connie Morphet and the staff for their work on the budget. “They know the predicament municipalities are facing and want to make sure EMS is well-equipped,” he said.
