The social services budget for Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West has been set and is on its way to County council for approval.
On Wednesday, the Community and Human Resources Committee approved a budget of $18.1 million, a 5.2% increase over last year.
A move by a Belleville councillor to cut that percentage failed.
CAO Jim Pine pointed out this includes maintaining existing services with declining provincial money, and recognizing the increased demand in service.
Pine told the committee, “Demands are important. It has become clear to us we needed to increase some service levels.”
He pointed to housing and child care.
Department Director Erin Rivers tells Quinte News the budget includes new costs for the Home for Good building and a new municipal benefit program.
Rivers says a significant section of the county’s housing stock is aging and in need of repair.
The budget also includes $350,000 to expand licensed child care spaces.
Rivers points to success in the Ontario Works program.
She said the numbers have been declining during the past seven years.
Treasurer Susan Horwood told the committee, “There was a lot of deferred spending because of provincial funding uncertainty.”
Belleville Councillor Bill Sandison told the committee that the budget amount of $18 million was too high.
Sandison called for an amendment, cutting the budget to a 2.8% increase, in other words, to the 2019 figure.
That suggestion was not supported.
Quinte West Councillor Karen Sharpe expressed concern that the province is downloading more of the child care cost locally.
Belleville Councillor Pat Culhane said, “It’s coming to the point where service will be reduced. People are going to lose in the end.”
The three municipalities pay a total of $8.6 million of the budget.
The budget approval was not on a recorded vote, but it was noted the four Belleville council members voted against it.
