THUNDER BAY – The local social services board's proposed budget is up more than $3 million from last year but only around $114,000 would come from its members.
With a total of $89.6 million the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board's budget would be around 3.7 per cent larger than last year. The $24 million taken from municipalities would be a 0.5 per cent bump over 2015.
The board says most of the increase is due to assistance for people on Ontario Works along with housing costs.
Those two areas, along with child care, are the board's main programs.
The province and board share costs for Ontario works, which this year looks to be around 94 per cent province and five per cent board, and child care while housing is funded through federal, provincial and board money.
Housing accounts for nearly $16 million of the municipal levy this year. Ontario Works would be around $6.1 million while child care nearly $2 million.
The board is looking to add two temporary human resources positions, which would equal two-thirds of one full-time position, this year bringing its staff to 178.25 full-time equivalent jobs.
The budget will be presented to the board Thursday morning.
