KDSB Approves 2014 Budget

Communities in the Kenora District are going to have to cough up a bit more money to pay for social services next year.
The District Services Board has approved a $38.9-million budget for 2014.
Chair Barry Baltesson says the increase could have been a lot more, if they hadn’t done a fair bit of restructuring over the past couple of years.
Baltesson says they’ve been able to save roughly $700,000 by integrating services and not replacing positions.
The overall increase for area municipalities amounts to about $192,000 in 2014, or the equivalent of about a 1.26% increase in property taxes.
Baltesson says the hike was largely due to salaries as there was a 1.5% increase for unionized and non-unionized employees.
He notes that also included increases in some benefits.
Baltesson notes he is pleased the increase will be less than the cost of living.