The Ontario government announced that up to $4 billion in emergency assistance under the Safe Restart Agreement has been secured to provide Ontario’s 444 municipalities with the support they need to respond to COVID-19.
As part of Municipal Operating Funding Phase 1: Immediate Funding for Municipal Pressures, the Town of Huntsville will receive $661,600. This funding will be used to address priority COVID-19 operating costs and pressures. In addition, the Town will also receive $33,890 to assist with COVID-19 municipal transit pressures.
Director of Financal Services, Julia McKenzie, shares how the funding will be used,
“The Town has been closely monitoring the financial impacts on the transit system and the municipality as a whole as a result of COVID-19 and has reacted quickly to mitigate the impacts of the significant losses in revenues as programs were unable to run. This funding will provide the assistance required to fund the financial burden now and in the upcoming year as we safely reopen facilities and resume programs. This assistance will help Town staff and Council to plan more effectively for the upcoming year.”
The Town extends thanks to the federal and provincial government for working together to provide support for municipalities and public transit operators. This investment will help address financial pressures related to COVID-19, maintain critical services and protect vulnerable people as the province safely and gradually opens.
For more information on Ontario’s Emergency Funding plan read the full media release at news.ontario.ca
For a full list of up-to-date information on Town services, support and resources during COVID-19 visit huntsville.ca/covid19.
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I understand the stipend for the “transit system”. Although it’s a very small source of revenue, the drivers should be entitled to some “back pay”, and the buses need maintenance before putting them back in service.
But what exactly is the intent of the $662K? Shouldn’t the Town saved monies during the closure; which can now be applied to the re-opening? What were the “expensive pressures” incurred during the closure?
I’m not trying to be offensive in any way: I just want to understand.