Press Release
The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board approved its 2017 annual budget of $20.52 million at the board’s regular meeting held Jan. 19.
The overall budget reflects a decrease of 3.44 percent on costs to district municipalities.
The budget is reflected below:
•Ontario Works–$3.15 million;
•Children’s Services–$3.45 million;
•Emergency Medical Services–$7.34 million;
•Social Housing–$5.94 million; and
•Central Administration–$640,000.
“I am pleasantly surprised and extremely pleased,” said Fort Frances Coun. Ken Perry, who was acclaimed as board chair prior to the budget deliberations.
“Our board has unanimously passed the 2017 budget, which I believe is a first for this board; congratulations to the members,” he noted.
“This budget is good for the municipalities, the unincorporated areas, and the citizens of our district,” Coun. Perry added.
“I also wish to thank the board for the continued opportunity to serve as chair for 2017.”
The DSSAB budget includes capital expenditures of $394,000, consisting of:
•a replacement ambulance with a powerload stretcher system;
•replacement of roofs/floors in several social housing buildings/apartments; and
•repairs to the heating and ventilating system at the DSSAB office.
As well, annual contributions to restricted reserves of $132,000 were approved.
The board also is awaiting renewed building condition audits and a viability study being prepared by the Housing Services Corp.
These documents will provide increased details for effective long-term planning of future capital budgets related to the social housing portfolio.
“The addition of further 100 percent provincial funding for reducing homelessness and continued improvements to Children’s Services, along with the upload of Ontario Works costs, made this budget easy to support,” said Ross Donaldson, the unincorporated rep (West) who was re-elected as vice-chair.
“Thank you to the staff and management for their continued hard work on behalf of the organization.
“The board continues to lobby the province for funding on land ambulance non-urgent transfers, and recognition of funding formulas that reflect our vast geography and our limited population,” noted Coun. Perry.
“We must ensure the province recognizes their obligations and provides 100 percent funding for these issues, as opposed to our local taxpayers footing the bill,” he stressed.
Land ambulance continues to struggle to ensure provision of non-urgent transports, both within and outside the district, while maintaining emergency coverage.
In other areas of the province, the cost of these transports are borne by the province through the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and hospital budgets which pay directly for private stretcher/transfer services.
Similarly, social housing continues to seek funds to improve or replace our existing housing units.
The continued imbalance of aging housing stock, which is inappropriately located or in need of improvements, versus the needs of our residents and communities continues to impact our local taxpayers.
“The budget passed in a timely fashion, so once again we can focus on further improvements for our district through effective lobbying,” said CAO Dan McCormick.
“Our staff, management, and board will ensure our voice continues to be heard at every opportunity to ensure fair and equitable funding is provided to maintain and improve services in our district,” he added.
