The South East Health Unit (SEHU) Board of Health has approved a $60 million operating budget for 2025.
It’s the first budget for the health unit since the merger of the former Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
The health unit, which met on Wednesday, said the budget was prepared using financial information from the three legacy boards and topped up with $1.49 million from the Ministry of Health for support staff to assist with the merger.
The budget includes municipal funding increases of six per cent for HPE (our region), one per cent for KFLA, and five per cent for LGL municipalities to address rising operational costs and needs in the community.
These increases were previously approved in the legacy agencies individual 2025 budgets.
A four-person team is tasked with implementation of the merger and ensuring a smooth transition. The merger process, which harmonizes policies, systems and programs, is expected to take up to three years.
