Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley says there is 'great concern' over cuts to public health from the Ontario government.
Bradley says while they still haven't been officially notified about funding cuts, they are under the impression that funding will be cut by 15 percent almost immediately.
He says right now the Ontario government funds about 75% of services offered by Niagara Public Health, and the municipality picks up the remainder of the costs.
Bradley believes the government will be moving to fund 60% of services.
He says that means Niagara will be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep services running as is.
The Chair says the region will have to decide whether to cut some of the services, or Niagara will have to pick up the cost of those services.
Bradley says there aren't frills, they are essential services.
Niagara Public Health offers various services ranging from employing food safety inspectors, immunization services, testing for ticks and mosquitoes, and helping new moms breast feed.
In Toronto's case, the cost-sharing for some programs drops to 50-50 by 2021, with the city estimating there will be a cut of more than $1 billion over a decade.