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ARTICLES
From: "Newspaper Database" <joanne.henri@city.greatersudbury.on.ca>
To: "Joanne Henri" <joanne.henri@city.greatersudbury.on.ca>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 8:34 AM
Subject: Government uploading programs to save city taxpayers millions
Government uploading programs to save city taxpayers millions
October 31, 2008 - Bill Bradley - Northern Life - Posted online
Mayor John Rodriguez shares a happy moment with Sudbury MPP Rick
Bartolucci
and Greater Sudbury Police Services chief Ian Davidson (on right).
Bartolucci announced Friday a major uploading of provincial programs
city
taxpayers are forced to pay millions of dollars for. Photo by Bill
Bradley.
City taxpayers got some treats prior to Halloween evening.
Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci came to Mayor John Rodriguez's office Friday
afternoon to offer him and local taxpayers a bag of goodies worth $21
million by 2018.
Luckily, there was no trick or hoop the city had to jump through to get
their treats, said Bartolucci.
The City of Greater Sudbury can expect to see costs of Ontario Works
benefits and the Sudbury Court House paid by the province, phased in
over
time, according to a new report by the province.
"For Greater Sudbury, this means $7,938,000 in increased annual benefits
for
social assistance and $1.5 million for court security and prisoner
transportation by the time the upload is complete in 2018," said
Bartolucci.
"With these uploads, the City of Greater Sudbury can build and repair
more
infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, libraries, sewer systems and
water
plants," he said.
Currently, municipalities like Greater Sudbury pay for some provincial
programs directly from property taxes. The Court House security costs -
over $1 million - have been continually an irritant to city councillors
and the mayor, said Bartolucci.
"I know Ward 9 Coun. Doug Craig has been vocal in his opposition to the
city
being forced to pay for policing the provincial Court House. He paid me
a
visit about this matter," he said.
Bartolucci also said there was intense involvement by many other
councillors
and the mayor to get the upload accomplished.
"Mayor John Rodriguez called me every week about this proposal. We
discussed
it intensively," said Bartolucci.
For his part, Rodriguez said it took a lot of courage for the province
to
upload services at a time when the general opinion is that the economy
is in
a tailspin.
"I have never seen a government take this action when everyone is saying
the
sky is falling," said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also appreciated that provincial transfers to the city will
remain
the same in 2009 despite the upload and that future funding formulas
will
have municipalities like Greater Sudbury at the table to work out the
details.
"I find that refreshing," said Rodriguez.
So did Greater Sudbury's financial officer, Lorella Hayes, charged with
keeping the city's finances viable during the upcoming 2009 budget
process.
"It is good news. I appreciate the Ontario municipal partnership fund
will
be intact in 2009. As to how much the city will save in 2009, that will
be
known by December," she said.
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