Some financial relief for communities in the Kenora District.
The Services Board has approved its 2021 operating budget of $68,134,080 million.
That’s a 9% increase over last year but the budget includes a 2.04% decrease in the Unincorporated and Municipal levy.
The Board says it acknowledges next year will be challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chair Barry Baltessen says the budget demonstrates the KDSB will not only maintain but enhance and expand service levels.
Henry Wall is the Chief Administrative Officer and says their proactive work over the past couple of years is starting to pay off.
“A couple of years of a lot of hard work in terms of realigning programs and services at the KDSB and really finding ways to find cost savings which includes the amalgamations that took place with respect to the Municipal
Non-Profit Organizations.”
Wall says they are also seeing more money come in from rents and child care services.
Some of the highlights in in the 2021 budget include:
-Early Learning and Care: Stabilize current and develop additional child care spaces to meet community needs.
-KDSB Northwest EMS: Development of new and expansion of EMS services and land ambulance bases.
-Housing and Homelessness: Enhancement of emergency shelter operations throughout the District; and the implementation of KDSB’s updated Ten Year Housing and Homelessness Plan.
-Infrastructure: Oversee final planning and construction on:
1. New Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing in Sioux Lookout and Dryden
2. 54-unit Seniors Housing Development in Kenora, and 40-unit Seniors Housing Development in Dryden
3. New EMS base in Pickle Lake and EMS Headquarters in Dryden
-Continue to invest $130,000 to support local child poverty reduction programs.
-Enhancement of service levels while keeping the Net Local Share levy impact viable.
