Hamilton city council will have to decide who’s going to foot the bill for a $9 million funding shortfall from the provincial government. A challenge particularly daunting because the 2019 budget has already been approved.
The biggest cuts come to children’s services which over sees the city’s daycares and to an addictions program that helps adults get back on their feet.
Who is going to pay, or which services will lack? That is what City Council is trying to figure out, after the numbers were crunched and it was determined that the Ford government will be providing nearly $9 million less to some services in Hamilton this year.
“We are already in our budget year and we know we are getting less money than we anticipated.”
The shortfalls mean $3.4 million less to children’s services.
“We are talking about putting at risk 632 new child care spaces that we’ve opened in the last year and a half. We are talking about the 183 children, more children that were receiving special needs resourcing. 250 more children per month receiving fee subsidies.”
The province also abolishing funding for an addictions program that helps 240 people on Ontario works access a specialized case worker that connects them with services.
This program is being axed in July, leaving 12 full time equivalent case workers worrying about potential job loss.
“We will have less staff delivering this service. It doesn’t necessarily mean all will lose their jobs. We will look for ways we can incorporate them within existing programs in the department. In the midst of worrying about their own future, they are more concerned about the folks that receive this service and where will we be able to refer them in the future.”
Johnson saying that it will be hard to close these funding gaps, which could result on an impact to taxpayers next city budget.
City Councilors expressed their concern today about the province downloading costs to municipalities. Councilor Brad Clark saying some Hamilton taxpayers, simply can’t afford it.
“Our property taxes are 6 percent above the provincial average. 14 percent of our residents have a real challenging time paying any increase.”
Council will wait until more information is released by the province before deciding what happens to these services.
The city estimates an $8.9 million funding shortfall this year to the Healthy and Safe Communities department. However, it is expected to increase to an annual shortfall of $10 million dollars in coming years.