Lanark County is going to have to find ways to make up provincial funding for childcare they expected to have but won’t be getting.
Lower-tier governments were left holding the bag after the ministry of education reversed course stating their previously announced funding changes from covering 100% of administration fees to a 50/50 split would begin in January after announcing previously that wouldn’t be the case.
In all, the county’s receiving a cut of $337,000 for 2024. $201,000 of that was allocated for child care providers and the remainder for the county administration.
Councillor Toby Randell isn’t impressed.
Staff said they can make up the $201,000 difference through emergency reserves, but the remaining $136,000 will have to come from somewhere in the already-approved budget.
Councillor Ed McPherson says it’s hard to plan when the rules are constantly changing.
In 2022, the province said the rest of the changes wouldn’t be implemented in 2024, before announcing on November 30th last year they will be, after the county approved its budget.
Story by Grant Deme
