Changes to the provincial funding model for public health mean the region will need to dig deeper into local pockets.
During yesterday's Public Health and Social Services meeting officials noted that while the province used to handle 75 percent of the cost of services, that number has decreased to 70 percent.
Niagara's Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Mustafa Hirji also noted public health has been facing a zero percent budget increase from the province for the last number of years.
"I'm reasonably confident things will not be any worse than that. You can never guess because of course the province is completely mum about these things. But I think it is a very conservative assumption we've made, and unfortunately I think a realistic one. I hope to be surprised and that surprise is that we have more funding."
At the end of the meeting committee members approved sending public health's $33,589,821 annual service plan and budget submission to the Ministry of Health
Niagara Public Health will also be asking to province to kick in $1,165,165 in one-time funding for five projects including replacing the mobile dental clinic.