Image: Huron County Courthouse
Discussions continue as Huron County closes in on its final 2025 budget.
During council’s meeting on Wednesday, they heard budget presentations from Huron Perth Public Health, as well as Emergency Services, Homes for the Aged, Social and Property Services, Public Works, and the Economic Development board.
Of those departments, several are looking at small increases in their annual budget, mostly for operating costs, staff salary and benefit increases, and changes in funding.
Public Works is looking to hire an additional summer student for this year. Before COVID-19, the county had been hiring five summer students each year, but because of the pandemic, that was then reduced to three. An additional student this year brings the total to four, with consideration to adding a fifth next year if necessary.
The Homes for the Aged are currently recruiting new support workers, and has costs associated with making ministry mandated renovations as needed to rooms. They also require a new no-turn lawn mower.
Economic Development is looking at different funding options since getting a new mandate from the province that was released during the ROMA conference.
Council will continue discussing the 2025 Budget at its next meeting on February 5th before their special budget meeting on February 12th.