DTSSAB Passes 2024 Budget and Re-Elects Chair and Vice-Chair
/On January 17th, the DTSSAB Board passed the 2024 Budget of $41,908,814, total expenditures with $463,000 used from the Working Fund Reserve to offset the municipal apportionment increase from 5.36% to 0%.
The 2024 Budget increase is a result of key factors including:
- Fluctuating funding where many programs’ costs have been progressively downloaded to municipalities, such as in Housing Services and Children’s Services
- Inflation has had a significant impact on insurance costs, vehicle and ambulance procurement, salaries, and labour and materials costs for necessary capital repairs to housing stock
The Board, which consists of seven appointed municipal representatives and two elected representatives from the territories without municipal representation, bring the viewpoint of the local taxpayer and their municipality to the table and ensures that the budget is fair and responsible in delivering the services that the DTSSAB has been mandated to deliver.
The DTSSAB Board also re-elected Derek Mundle, of Evanturel as Board Chair, and Pat Kiely from Kirkland Lake as Vice-Chair. The approved 2024 Board Meeting schedule can be found on the DTSSAB’s website at: https://www.dtssab.com/board-meetings.
QUOTES
Derek Mundle, Board Chair – “The DTSSAB’s mission is to deliver programs and services through effective use of available resources in the best interest of the individuals we support. This mission guided the DTSSAB Team in the formulation of this budget, where despite increased costs – program delivery remains the primary focus. To ensure the sustainability and resilience of our programs, and also minimize the impact on our municipal partners, the Board has elected to offset the budgetary increase by leveraging $463,000 from the Working Fund Reserve. This fiscally responsible approach allows DTSSAB to continue to meet the growing demands of our services while minimizing the financial impact on citizens across the district.”
"I'm thankful for the support of the board and feel privileged to hold the position of Chair for another year. DTSSAB staff and the board consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to providing Social and Emergency Medical Services across Timiskaming and also a keen awareness of current financial realities."
Mark Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer - "In my role, there is a focus on pragmatic oversight and strategic financial management. Our dedicated team has navigated the challenging waters of rising inflationary costs, decreased or static government funding, and the complex demands of managing housing services costs while being aware of the impact on our municipal billing. Our primary goal has always been to ensure value for public money. This year, despite these hurdles, we've successfully maintained a reasonable budget increase. This achievement is a testament to our team's innovative thinking and commitment to balancing service delivery with fiscal responsibility. In each step, we've ensured our dedication to the community, ensuring every dollar spent is an investment in our services."
CONTACT
Contact communications@dtssab.com for clarification or interview requests.