The Board of Health for the South East Health Unit approved a motion at its meeting on Wednesday that they endorse a phased approach of five years to achieve a harmonized funding ratio of 67.5 provincial funding/32.5 municipal levies.
The phased approach would begin with a 69.25/30.75 funding split in 2025 with the goal of reaching the target ratio within five years.
The minimum funding model for health units is 75/25 as laid out by the province, however, if the health unit had moved forward with that model, they would have lost $4.3 million in merger funding for levy harmonization.
In a report to the board, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza says the option to go forward with a 67.5/32.5 will also give the health unit financial stability to maintain services across the board, and safeguard potential erosion of public health funding in the future, while allowing municipalities to gradually build up to a higher levy.
Discussions on utilizing the $4.3 million in merger funding for levy harmonization from the province, which will be spread out over three years, will come at a future meeting of the Board of Health.
