The region's public health department has posted deficits so far this year.
But Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Board members heard May 16 that the revenue shortfall is expected to be closed by the end of the year.
Matthew Vrooman, the health department's director of corporate services, gave a financial update at the May 16 board meeting.
The cumulative deficit totals $500,974 for the first four months of fiscal year 2024. Current operating results show that revenues received were approximately $444,920 less than budgeted for the first four months of the fiscal year.
The current deficit was caused by a revenue shortfall and an expenditure overrun of $67,307. The revenue shortfall is a timing difference and is expected to be recovered throughout the fiscal year.
“We're happy with the expenses,” said board member John Rogel, from Northumberland, “and we've got no concerns about that.”
But when it comes to revenue for the health department, there are three areas where all of the funding for this fiscal year has already been received, Rogel said.
“I'm asking, were there any costs associated with that?” Rogel said.
Vrooman said he would return to the board with answers to the questions.
Combined, salaries and benefits will result in a deficit of $70,887, but the committee expects a correction will be made as excess fees from previous periods and additional pay periods flow through the system.
Most expenditure items are trending at or above budget, except for computer support, professional development and equipment, according to the unaudited report.
The committee heard that professional development expenditure increases significantly due to the timing of payments for workplace training: typically, budgeted amounts are allocated equally as monthly expenditure, with actual costs accounted for as incurred.
Total expenditures to date this year are 34.27 percent of the budgeted amount for the first four months. To date this year, the Public Health Department has received 31.99 percent of projected revenues for the first four months of the fiscal year.
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James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Haliburton County Echo
