Belleville will pay its 2018 Long Term Care bill, but it’s not clear where the money is coming from.
Councillor Kelly McCaw was successful, at Monday night’s council meeting, in getting council to reconsider its decision recently not to pay the Long Term Care bill.
The city objected to the 17% and 31% budget hikes for Hastings Manor and Centennial Manor, respectively.
McCaw says “if you can find money for a trolley bus you can find money for this.”
Director of Finance Brian Cousins outlined three choices for council, including sending out a second tax bill.
Cousins said council could agree to one-time funding, or find a bunch of issues that total $400,000 and use those funds.
Councillor Paul Carr criticized what he called “the lack of details” from Hastings County staff available at the budget vote.
Carr praised personal support workers, whose wages were a factor in the cost hike.
Questioning the work environment he said, “What kind of environment is there that people are not coming to work?”
Council agreed to pay the 2018 Long Term Care bill, with its extra $400,000.
Councillor Jackie Denyes was the only dissenting vote. “I’m going to stand fast until I see what those legal obligations are,” she said.
Mayor Taso Christoper and Councillor Mike Graham were absent.
Council then referred the matter to staff to find the money.