Belleville Councillor Egerton Boyce at the Hastings-Quinte social services committee meeting, May 11, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
A Belleville councillor has raised concerns about the jump in daycare rates that the Hastings-Quinte social services is paying out for 2016.
Wednesday, the joint social services committee approved agreements with 26 child care providers throughout Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West.
Councillor Egerton Boyce questioned the fact that the list included increases from 2% to as high as 27%.
Boyce asked if there was anything the committee could do about the increases “paid for by the taxpayers.”
Executive director Steve Gatward explained that it is not a flat rate but is based on operating costs and the increases are within the $140,000 budget.
He said the increases could depend on utility costs, food and staffing for the different ages of the children in care.
Hastings County director of finance Sue Horwood said the day care providers are non-profit and it is 100% provincial funding.
She said that without those rates and the subsidies there would not be day care available.
She also explained that there is no waiting list for the service.
