Facing a $5-million shortfall, the Simcoe County CAS has already exhausted its $2-million line of credit, and it may not be able to pay its bills by the end of February, executive director Mary Ballantyne told county politicians on Jan. 26.
The agency’s financial troubles will affect children, Ballantyne said.
“Who knows what people will do if they don’t get paid. Somehow, the bills will get paid, but if you are a parent or a child hearing about people not paying for you to live there, or you are working for an organization that is not financially stable, it will be destabilizing for you.
“Will the bills eventually be paid? Probably. Most will not put the children out on the street, but some will return the children to our offices.”
With an annual operating budget of almost $41 million, the local CAS says it is among the lowest-funded child-protection agencies in Ontario. It receives a boarding rate of $73 per day – while actual costs ring in at $89 per day. Branches in the Greater Toronto Area receive $103 per day.
That amounts to a $2-million shortfall, Ballantyne said.
The shortfall results from years of growth, along with a funding model based on outdated numbers and the lower-than-average boarding rate, she said.
Former warden Tony Guergis, however, warned his colleagues that a loan will not fix what ails the CAS.
“Let’s call it what it is – it’s a loan to the province of Ontario,” said Guergis. “We’re the lowest-funded in education. A social-housing report indicated we’re the lowest funded.
“Our health-care per-capita (grants) are the lowest. We need to engage every MPP that represents Simcoe County. Nobody should get off the hook.”
Simcoe County has the 11th-largest CAS in Ontario, with 270 staff and 174 foster homes. Last year, it served 4,356 families.
Ballantyne noted this year isn’t the first time the agency has struggled to make ends meet on tight funding. But this is the first time the province has refused to negotiate a grant increase.
The agency has appealed under Section 14 of the Child and Family Services Act, an appeal made to the minister but referred to the regional ministry office. She said there has been not yet been a response.
Ballantyne said the agency, which should be entirely provincially funded, is only 90 per cent funded.
The county will write a letter supporting the CAS request for more cash.
“We need to do more,” said Bradford/West Gwillimbury Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley. “This is an issue provincewide. This is not just local.”
The letter will also be copied to other municipalities for support, and the county will seek a meeting with the minister at an upcoming conference.
lwatt@simcoe.com
