Social service costs will add 2% to county tax bills

POLITICS: County council approves $517-million operating budget

Posted By COLIN MCKIM, SUN MEDIA

Posted 2 months ago

Municipal property taxes for Simcoe County residents will rise 2% next year, primarily as the result of rising social service costs.

Yesterday, county council approved a $517-million operating budget for 2010 which includes $107 million for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and $75 million for Ontario Works.

This is $34 million more than the county allotted last year for these two social assistance programs.

Currently, there are 7,450 ODSP recipients and 8,500 Ontario Works recipients in the county.

With no economic turnaround imminent, the county is adding $34 million to the budget specifically for ODSP and Ontario Works.

"Simcoe County's 2010 budget reflects the global economic uncertainty we are facing and provides a fiscally responsible plan that meets residents' needs across all 18 area municipalities," stated Warden Tony Guergis, in a news release.

"Council continues to focus on providing appropriate levels of service with a commonsense approach to managing our finances."

Social housing has been allotted $51 million and children and community services will receive $24 million.

The 2% increase in the county portion of the property tax will amount to about $11 on a property assessed at $200,000.

County council also approved $91-million in capital expenditures, including a 69,114 square-foot addition to the administration building in Midhurst at a projected cost of $23 million.

Another $36 million will be spent on infrastructure such as roads and bridges, while $16 million is going toward the redevelopment of the Georgian Manor nursing home in Penetanguishene.

The County of Simcoe is composed of 16 member municipalities and provides crucial public services to county residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia.

For more information, visit simcoe.ca.

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Total county expenditures for 2010

$517 million includes: Ontario Works $75 million Ontario Disability Support Program $107 million

Long Term Care $36 million Transportation and Engineering $60 million

Environmental $39 million Social Housing $51 million Paramedics $34 million

Children and Community Services $24 million