Public health passes $25-million budget for 2026

GUELPH – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s (WDGPH) board of health has passed a $25-million budget, including a 2.9 per cent cost increase for its three funding municipalities.

Based on population numbers, Guelph’s share will be $4,702,319, Wellington County’s $3,182,459 and Dufferin County’s $2,167,209.

CAO David Kingma and director of finance Brian Herman presented the $25,617,600 cost-shared budget during the board's Nov. 5 meeting.

They explained the province has increased its funding by 1% or $153,818, bringing its share to $15,535,613.

It’s the first increase from the province in years, Herman said.

And while welcome, it doesn’t keep pace with inflation or population growth in the WDGPH region – two factors that are driving up costs, he said.

Salaries, wages and benefits make up the lion’s share of public health’s expenses, with wages to increase by 2.9% in 2026 and benefits by 4%, for a net increase of 3.25% or $650,294.

Staff have shaved $212,949 from the operating budget by reducing staff training, professional and purchased services, equipment and furniture, and printing and postage, for a net increase of 1.7%.

But there is little wiggle room left as the province mandates that public health units deliver specific programs, and they cost what they do.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nicola Mercer said WDGPH is among the fastest-growing health units in Ontario and the Ministry of Health did not acknowledge that in its funding.

Growth means there are more schools and children to immunize, more catch basins to test for mosquitoes, more businesses and restaurants that require health inspections, and more territory for staff to travel through.

“Funding that doesn’t keep pace is our biggest risk,” Kingma said.

“We have a plan for the immediate out-years, but in time it will catch up.”

Board members brought up the situation with Ottawa Public Health, which is seeking an additional $450,000 from the province to address its 2026 budget shortfall.

“There are a number of fledgling health units right now,” Kingma said. “We anticipate seeing more of these stories.”

It was noted the province is planning a review of public health units and that might lead to funding increases in the future.

But that remains an unknown for future budgets.

“I manage the best way I know how,” Mercer said, listing cost-effective practices and “thinking outside the box, that has paid off.

“We are financially viable while others struggle.”

But that can’t go on forever either, she added.

“I will continue to watch things carefully,” Mercer said. “I remain optimistic.”

WDGPH finance committee chair Chris White noted he too is hopeful a ministry review will help address the funding gap.

“Looking at long-term systemic funding, there’s a ceiling we’re going to hit,” he said.

“We know the dance we have to do every year,” he added as the board approved the budget.