Tom Sasvari
The Recorder
SUDBURY—The Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU) has increased its budget for 2012 in order to maintain its 2011 service levels.
The overall budget represents a two percent increase, with the Sudbury and District Board of Health approving the 2012 budget at its regular meeting last week. The board approved an operating budget for cost-shared programs and services of $22.4 million, which represents a 2.1 percent per capita increase for the municipality’s share of public health services as well as a 2.5 percent increase to the cost-shared provincial grant.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the SDHU medical officer of health, told the board the budget maintains 2011 service levels.
Local municipalities along with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care share the cost of public health programs and services. The 2012 budget includes a 3.3 percent increase in salary grids over 2011. As well, benefit costs and pension contributions are expected to increase 3.5 percent.
Health unit staff said in a statement contained in the budget presentation that it sought to protect service delivery levels while continuing to work toward, “an effective and sustainable public health system.”
The board of health approved the 2012 operating budget for cost-shared programs and services in the amount of $22,426,243. The total includes the “Vector Borne Disease control contingency budget of $500,000, the municipal portion of which will be levied only if the Medical Officer of Health requires such control measures in 2012.”
The municipal levy for 2012, and what the difference is compared to what was paid in 2011, for Manitoulin municipalities includes: Assiginack, 28,816, an increase of $526; Billings, $18,562, an increase of $1,651; Burpee and Mills, $10,644, a decrease of $100, Central Manitoulin, $63,538, an increase of $3,461; Gordon/Barrie Island, $16,939, an increase of $728; Gore Bay, $29,011, an increase of $1,801; Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, $82,813, an increase of $5,317; and Tehkummah, $12,915, an increase of $1,091.
