The City of Belleville has cut a planned budget increase for the South East Public Health Unit.
During Monday’s council meeting, Councillor Kelly Henderson put forward a motion to amend the 2026 budget, cutting a 3% increase to the South East Public Health Unit’s funding over the previous year’s funds. Those funds would instead be directed to the tax rate stabilization reserve.
Speaking about the motion, Councillor Henderson said that the health unit had demonstrated a lack of transparency by withholding financial information from municipalities during the budgeting process, before later announcing a budget surplus of $3.6 million just after the municipal budget was approved. Councillor Henderson had previously requested financial information from the health unit during the budgeting process, but was refused.
“What I found most offensive by the South East Public Health, was their refusal to disclose key financial information, thereby telling the residents of Belleville really it’s none of their business how they spend the money that they make us collect,” said Councillor Henderson. “I think it’s time we sent the South East Public Health Unit a fairly clear message that we expect transparency and accountability when it comes to their budget and that they really have no right or any business coming to the City of Belleville’s residents asking for an increase when they’re sitting in a multi-million-dollar surplus position.”
The motion passed in a recorded vote, with councillors Sean Kelly and Garnet Thompson voting against.
