A report to Hastings County Council at its virtual meeting on Thursday indicated there was still “much uncertainty” around the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for municipal budgets.
Director of Finance Sue Horwood submitted a report detailing some of the costs and some of the savings.
For instance, provincial offences court has been closed since March 16, and will not reopen until July 6. That saves money but there is a decrease in the number of tickets being filed.
The total cost of six new paramedics, at $741,888 has been provided by the provincial government.
The cost to Emergency Services for the two repatriation flights at CFB Trenton, early in the COVID-19 situation, hit $54,063 and that has been submitted for reimbursement.
CAO Jim Pine comments to Quinte News on the coronavirus costs.
In her report, Horwood says, “The landscape is constantly changing, new information and programs are announced regularly and there is uncertainty on how program guidelines and targets will be applied. There is also a delay between incurring the costs and the payment and uncertanty if additional funding will be announced.
