Prescott has announced the Province will not be implementing retroactive changes that will affect the town.
CAO/Treasurer Matthew Armstrong says Prescott was notified that the cost sharing between the Provincial and Municipal governments were going to change for a number of services, in particular public health with the introduction of the 2019 provincial budget. He says they were looking at an additional $19,000 levy.
Armstrong says they were also going to be looking at an additional $63,000 to contribute to joint services that are offered in the united counties like child services and paramedic.
With the announcement that the province is not implementing retroactive changes, those have been rescinded but looking to be implemented by 2020, according to Armstrong. He says it alleviates some issues for this year considering the budget has already been passed and funding has been allocated to numerous activities and department budgets.
Armstrong adds they will have to look forward to 2020 and make sure to be able to find that money within the Town’s budget without putting undue stress on the tax payer.