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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal Star, 1976-04-01, Page 1O Huronview s� setsgood example When 'it became evident' that H'uronview's budget • • would Haver to be tightened to . accommodate the govern ent's. announcement that only a 51/2 per cent hike would be approved in 1976, Administrator Chester Archibald ..was pleasantly surprised when some members of his staff carne to him with the suggestion that the cost of meals for workers at the home be dotibled. •A Mr. Archibald told council„at'its March; session that 'at 50 cents each; the meals were bringing iii $10:;.000• per annum: H'uronview-staff reasoned -ghat an additiaria1 • $10,000 could be added to the budget if the cost of meals to staff went to$1.. The Board: of Management at Huronview had been considering the increase, but when the staff volun- teered for the raised •price, board members felt compelled to follow -their example. They decided that en meeting days, each board member would. forfeit $1 for:the meal that unti•1'this time had been free. "You mean the county will 'pay for it•,''" said Elgr�_i Thompson, reeve of Tuckersmith, hard1,r believing his ears, . y . . "No; my understanding was that the committee members would pay for the meals out of their own. pockets," said:Mr• Archibald. Several heads nodded: in, agreement: • "And itis high time we paid for our own meals, too," • stated .Reeve Thompson, obviously getting' into the spirit of the thing..: • . Warden Jack McCutcheon promptly brought the discussion to a.close. { 1.29 -YEAR- a 4 THURSDAY, APRIL, 1 , 1976 SINGLE COPY • Huron County Council,' is taking its role seriously. When War-een. Jack McCutcheon asked coun- cillors Friday at •the March session in Goderich if they -were -ready . to accept the ' responsibTli:ty fer the' reduction of health care costs in .the county should the government empower thein to do so, few members declined. e Warden McCutcheon told council that Ontario Premier William Davis and Minister of Health Frank Miller had been impressedwith a Huron As of today, April 1, the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital.will- be operating in the new capacity, of a.•nrental retardation resource centre. The patients of the hospital have been moved to London and Owen Sound.. [staff photo] County: Board .of Health pre's,•entation; which :stressed. the fact'that Huron is a"total co•u•nty" that 'sticks -together"said. He the only argument to which the prejnier and the minister; of health would listen: was, the .:ne which put forth the claim that Huron County wants to manage its own ' affair:;, .even where health • cutbacks are con- cerned and should be per, mated •• .to co-ordinate eetings with the five hpitals. to work, out an amicable settlement to achieve the -results desired by Toronto. Speidei C9 war at ."Are we ready to accept the responsibility to allocate bed reduction . proportionately across the county?"• asked Warden`McCutcheon.. John • Jewitt of • Hullett •s•eemed to speak for all of council when he replied, "If we've got to be the body that takes the stand, then we'd better be the body that takes the stand." • Only Reeve John Flannery , of Seaforth voiced his concern in accepting • the, respon- . sibility. He questioned whether council should get into this kind of ad - Ministration, even „if given the power to do so. "How many beds will we be •expected- to • cut back next_ _year?" 'asked .Flannery. '!Will • this become an, annual. .While council watts tar"""►e- government's decision on Jof whether or not county council derich District t ollegi to will be empowered to allocate Goderich District Collegiate bed reduction • ap- Institute, h portionments throug _ another. award for a deser as at h Huron, ving GT)CI student :which will be .presented atthisyear:s cornineiicementexercises. .. - The •Speidel Award for$100•:- •w'ill be iven.:°annivall to a ,, student in Year 3 who • has shown the most -progress . in Years and 2 Ac'ding to Mr: Stringer, Staff �s tt, 11 be looking for . a toh,a•, overcome a, a` ror.other o s'tacles tfi the - fer`st two years of secondary school to become a deserving student in. the _third year: . . Cape Dorset prh t s:here During Education. Week. April 5 to 9; Goderich District. Collegiate Institute will•have `ort display 'in thetuck shop „ corridor . the Cape Dorset -printsfrom the London Art Gallery, The public is cordially invited. to visit the school.; see. the .local students at work in their classes and view the art pieces on display. Expenses ,up i 3.7 per cent the l410 ine There wasn't much dispute budget, general government and telephone have • all in over the county budget for • is: up from $78,800' in 1975 to, crease county road budget is 1976 when council met in _:.$94,850 this;, year. County down fromobudget is :'. regular session Friday in council sessions 'won't 'n cost thit ,. iactually ton$ in: 1976.• Goderich at , the • March ' any more -'$32,000 ag again in 1975 t$2,493,600 is inup from session. Although costs were -year - but the warden's. saotlary er Ro$66ad maintenance00 to $771,000 as ;is up in most departments and • his pay causing an overall increase in meetings is up from $5,000 to overhead $403,000 in achi a ty' I? ex enditure. of 13.7 -per' cent $6,200 and the county co e $4fr73 cent _this year. But total more than in 1975, the county mittees will cost $4,000 more levy will remain the same. d this.year ast from $900,000 000 1 budgeted 6,000 al. to of road $813 600 and ear As Reeve-Gery Ginn sal the $1 boundary bridges this y following the meeting, '"That . year.. • should help soften the .blow • Convention. and ' other will -cost only $9.7,000 as -op- _ for the taxpayers in 1976." committee .costs have9,50in- 0 posed The t $325, 00 last teas up r. Reeve Ginn like many other creased from $5,p00to to a heavy looking the cost-- thiforWarcl s tear's budge,000d for travel avel .ed in to s$ 92,8200m n $197670Salaries• to.a heavy increase inY of education throughout the and convention expenses that are all up, of cours , In - county this year. was•n'tthere last Yeo eluding • fees to board The, total county budget is The history project 'last $7,710,66'4:. That's $466,522 year cost 1 000 has0b0een seThis t aside. re than as - $7,244„142.. - • 4increasing costly incidences across Ontario. Plumbing and ` Environ- ment has. increased in cost from $44,500 in 1975 to $75,500. Thisdepartmentis subsidized by the government to the tune of $21,750. Inspection fees will bring in another est•�mat d $33,750. County cost to othe Huron County ratepayers be $20,000. • Children's Aid Society. iminate Dr. • Frank "'Mills,. brought' forward . sortie ' shocking statistics for - council's perusal. The, county's brief W government had noted that. $944,000 had to be cut from Huron's health care budget. Five proposals , had been made by the county to effect these savings without closing Clinton- Public Hospital. These were: 1. All hospitals so.uld make full and. immediate use or Home Care services to reduce hospital bed days to a bare. minimum. 2:. All hospitals should, screen admissions carefully. questioning ,'the need . for admission and whether they could perhaps be cared; fdr' under the ' Home `. Care Prs•.yo� g�r�apm7 ' a.•'o•Aw•u' 3 ,"-, a`•!' lel Le-isr.-J n 414. - immediately' discharge their long -stay patients.'wherever possible. to . nursing homes, Home Care, VON etc. 4. All. hospitals. should restrict emergency roonns to emergency cases only, with no convenience cases..either•for ,• people or physicians. 5.. All : hospital boards should immediately meet and; decide on unitizing of the hospital services within the, county so .,that certain .ser- vices may centralized in specific ..hospitals to avoid ' duplication :•• o-e,-xpensive. equipment and staff. , It was Dr. Mills' contention that • many • Huron ;• hospital beds were being utilized for chronic long -stay patients who could , be cared for in alternate facilities. Seeking to substantiate`hiS :belief; he :contacted Stephen Skorcz, area .planning .co-ordinator •for the Ministry of Health. to determine the percentage of long stayvpcwatients Huron had patient ' days they utilized r in active. treatment units. : •• Statistics show that there, were 445 patients who ac - •continued on page 20 r S ode'rA'tra tzrit : and • Recreation . ` board decided Thursday night to eliminate surrimer.day:camps and playgrounds from their 1976 program' in an effprt"to trim their budget'for ..the year. The- two children's activities were hardest hit in a budget' slash that dropped about $8,000k -from the list of 1976 expenses to • cut :the year's increase from ,23.8($17,00)' percent to what .'new stands: as a 12.5(89,400) percent increase. The mdst recent budget has no committee approval , and ' may or May not be final,. suggestions sent to town council for adoption. The committee viewed a budget' proposal prepared` by. recreation 'director Mike .ah'•� T •i^ 3l 5,ond at Wa �3 8 p more than 1975's $69,144 to iltf e ra is: lige ed right off the top this year to -budget... The corn-tnittee `accommodate"tire third staff overspent last year ending up member and extra costs • rising ' ?--the. :tax -.needed. at the • Goderich, ,payers' :money, $5,400 more arena. The final.budget' M- • rh'ah'i planned. • crease is based on net •ex- . The extra money required penses • the -rec board ;faces for. last year was urian- after their estimated revenue ticipated expenses that for the year has been received. committee and . ulated. ° ' council -approval. This year's ,> he elimination of • expenses as computed by Mr. playground and. day camp' Dymond did. . not' pad the •'services from' the recreation budget to handle any unex-`program realized: a $6,000 pected costs,' nor.did it' , saving for the board. The six provide for,any capital. ex- week program operated• in" •penditures or finance any ..the summer attracted'about major program changes. •100 childreinbetween the•ages • Thebulkof the extra increasedney ,of 'six and 13 and needed six' was spent • . in • staff members to operate. operation and snooty 'costs The bulk of the expenses were and in payroll ,,: for payroll but supply costs, The rec director pointed out - continued on page 20 espite increases budget shows the -results of ,severe government'cutbacks: Tire province' wit' this year ;pay $341;898 toward a total budget of $439,775. Last year. Ontario provided $321,246 of 'a total budget of $405,092, The county this year will kick in $97;;877 as opposed to $77,904, In- :other words, both the :.county and. the province are adding• about another $20,000 each: last years total of only $ • • • After.' -government grants ••and Other revenue; the county ratepayers will be asked exactly contribltte.$2,528,000- year. the same as ; -last However, it has been necessary . to ' use the ac- cumulative surplus olevy $416,383 to maintain the , y at last years figure. Included in the 1976 budget is provision for increases to the .reserve funds: working i:ti $15.0,000; hospital ra reserve, .$200,004; employee ar►d 6 maintenance soaring for medical care of res. ells$, $150;00$; and capital The general to nun pregnant women. Ho ben budget is up' from $110,425 young p works building, $20,0n0. g Looking" at the individual $114,152. Again, salaries and said family planning services budgets within the total expenses tike fuel, utilities are designed to prevent.ever- members. Equipment and. materials bre down slightly, but rent and•utilities are up. Turning to' the general Added this year - at the • administration budget, government's order - is a salaries account for a large ' family planning program part of the increase from which will cost $57,900; hiis $150,700 last year to $178,500 particular e item this year. Salaries have gone questioned during the session up 18 per cent - from $100,000 by Morris Reeve Bill Elston " o geg some things we to $118,000. • Likewise, em- who commented, We+n r ine pioyee's'benefits and work- d 't tt men's compensation haveneed while some things we increased nominally.. need we;re,not getting."' Things, like office supplies, It was pointed, out to Reeve equipnoeret , • postage ,• Elston by Medical Officer of telephone,, travel 'expenses Health Dr. Frank Mills that le If es ar'e all upthe provino•ial costs are - Salaries and employee benefits ,are up but office expenses;' training and conference expenses as well as travel allowances are down. It'is understood the CAS 'budget was "cut to the bone 'and accordingto Bruce Heath: director, every effort will be made: to provide service equal. to that provided in previous years., Social services too, is hard hit. The county t s ye •actually pay more toward •social .services . while the province will pay less. Huron will contribute $103,550 this year, $2,575, more than last ' year. The province will pay $378,200 - $8,1,00 less than last • year. General assistance is ex- pected to cost $283,900 in 1976 - $7 700 more than -fast year's figure of $276,200. Payments: for citizens in nursing homes Will drop drastically from $21,000 in 1975.to $1,000 in 1976. Supplementary aid will'. also' be down from $12,000 in 1075 to $9,600 this year. Special. assistance - drugs, surgical supplies, . moving, funerals, dental, optical, vocational training etc. -. will drop from $13,500 in'1975 to $11,40.0 in • • continued on page 20. ..ew county tax system. changes municipal apportionments -some up, some down • Although Huron County will not he raising any additional tax dollars this year, some municipalities will face • an increase in' their ,county apportionment for 1976..• At the same time, some will have a pleasant reduction and it is all because of a belief that people services should be paid by the people who use them. •For some time, cotinty council has been studyingthe tax structure in Huron 'by which all funds were raised on an assessment basis._ At . the ;March session of coo by Council- held Friday .in council chambers • at Goderich; decision• was reached' to that • people ser- vices - .Children's Aid, Huronview, Social Services. , health and library - •f•und.ed according to population of a municipality., °There's no doubt, it, is a fairer way of doing'things," commented. Warden Jack ;McCutcheonto council. tinder : the new scheme. which involved passing a bylaw in accordance -with The Municipal Act, Section 507, Subsection 7•, four of. the .five Solite villa es andw' will have an increase in 1976. The Town of_Goderich, the largest municipality in Huron, will pay 8370.297 in 1976 into: the county coffers. That's an increase of $19,146. The town of Exeter will pay $163,95`9, , $$,J 1.5 more. Wingham .w'11 •pay $132,536; down from $139,612. Clinton will pay $123,124, $6,982 more• $caforth will pay $$6,056; up $3,778. • The village of Bayfield will have a ' redo ion, .f o $34,391 last year tb $28,60 this year. ,All the rest face in- creases n- !M !Myth, $30,205 to $31,022; Brussels, $35,211 to $35,587;' Hensall, $45,600 to $46.347; • Zurich, • $30,401 to $30,998. Stephen and .Tuckersmith Townships will- pay more in 1976.'`The townships and their apportionments are listed below, the 1975 ap- portiontrient in bnackets: Ashfield, $95,181'($105,597); Colborne, $67,779 ($71,856); Goderich; $103,232 ($112,923); Grey, $88,270 (,$91,094) ; I -lay, $108,35.4 t$''121•,901"); Howick, $123;095 ($124•,496); Hullett, $84,183 ($87,398); McKillop, $74,485 ($79.,08). Morris, towns Will all pay more, ct ease s Y $68 983 ($71,828) ; Stanley, g t o to' n hips z 887,225 ($89,830); Stephen, $189,1.17 ($172,434); Tti•c'kers ith, $145,145, ($134,765); urnberry,•$62,9'50 ($60,576); Usborne, $80,599 ($80,499); East WawaWS , $51;628 ($53,531); Wawanosh, $49,241 ($.49,327)• All municipalities will be required to pay their ap pbrtionments in• two equal' instalments - one June,30 and. one December 15•. • Clerk -treasurer Bill :lenfy Said " that municipalities which didn't pav on time • '.would be billed' for the irr- terest on the Money owing.