The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has received a 12 per cent boost in its Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding from the province.
It means C-K is getting $21.5 million from the fund that is Ontario’s primary general assistance grant for municipalities.
While the announcement isn’t news to Chatham-Kent, as an OMPF estimate was already factored into C-K’s budget process, Mayor Darrin Canniff said the 12 per cent increase is a win.
“We were very pleased and surprised the funding went up 12 per cent,” Canniff said, adding the increase is meant to be used to enhance rural communities and infrastructure.
The City of Sarnia, and the Municipality of Middlesex Centre also received funding increases. Sarnia is getting an estimated $3.8 million, a seven per cent increase, with Middlesex Centre getting $1.4 million, an 18 per cent increase.
In a media release, Ontario finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the funding increases answer a need.
“We have heard from small, Northern and rural municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face in delivering services to their communities and that’s exactly what this significant increase to OMPR will help them do,” the minister said.