The Sudbury and District Health Unit presented its 2017 budget to the city's finance committee Tuesday, which included a 1.8 per cent increase on a budget of just more than $6 million.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the city's medical officer of health, said they serve 19 municipalities, including Sudbury, and are one of 36 such boards in Ontario.
Under a new provincial funding model, the health unit stands to lose funding next year, but have reduced costs to minimize the impact on taxes. For this year, their funding was $433,780 less than the year before, but managed to save $254,000 in 2016, leaving $180,000 to be raised.
While they must deliver provincially mandated programs, Sutcliffe said they also tailor services to meet unique needs of this area.
While funding is a municipality responsibility, the health unit receives grants from the province ranging from 100 per cent funded to 50/50 splits with the province.
But the new funding model presents a challenge, she said, and will leave a $1.8 million budget shortfall by 2020.
Among their goals for the coming year is getting a better understanding of poverty, in particular people who are struggling unseen from social services agencies.
“Poverty collects itself in different neighbourhoods,” she said.
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann wondered if there have been any improvements for Northerners, who smoke more, are more overweight and are generally less healthy than people in other parts of the province.
“How do we fare compared to other communities?” Landry-Altmann asked.
Sutcliffe replied that we are still behind the rest of the province, and there's a need to inform people on importance of making better decisions.
