Provincial funding changes means Chatham-Kent politicians will be scrounging quarters to make up budget shortfalls. 
Some of the changes that negatively impact the municipal budget:
- a plan to double the gas tax was shelved and amounts to a cut of $1-million,
- the cancellation of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund means a loss of a potential $2-million,
- freezing of land ambulance funding and regionalization will cost Chatham-Kent just below $600,000 in 2019,
- Health Unit Regionalization means the loss of up to $900,000 but more likely closer to $200K with mitigation funding for this year,
- Children Services Reduction have initial estimates of $731,000 due to increases in cost sharing of previously 100% provincially funded programs.
Any 2019 impacts to budgets will be handled by reserve funding or by the corporate variance reports.
Any recommendations on service adjustments or funding adjustments will come to Council in detailed divisional reports and/or 2020 Budget recommendations.
