Councillor Calls Out South East Health Unit Over Transparency Concerns and Funding Disclosures
- Small Town Productions
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
| Small Town News | A Division of Small Town Productions |
Disclaimer:
This article contains statements attributed to an elected municipal official and is presented for informational purposes only. No findings of fact or determinations of wrongdoing are made or implied regarding the South East Health Unit or any individual referenced.
This publication does not endorse or oppose any party involved.
A Belleville city councillor has raised concerns regarding transparency and financial disclosure practices involving the South East Health Unit following recent municipal budget deliberations.
A written statement from Councillor Kelly Henderson, issued on City of Belleville letterhead, outlines concerns related to the health unit’s budget request, financial reporting, and the timing of provincial funding disclosures.
The full statement is included below.
Original Statement from Councillor Kelly Henderson
According to the statement, the South East Health Unit presented a proposed 5% budget increase. Henderson stated that when asked for a detailed breakdown of certain expenditures, specific financial information was not provided.
The statement identifies a line item described as “Professional and Contract Services” totaling $1,002,250, for which Henderson indicated a detailed explanation was requested.
Henderson stated that this issue contributed to a decision to introduce an amendment to reduce the requested increase from 5% to 3%, which the statement says was unanimously adopted by council.
The councillor also raised concerns regarding provincial funding.
According to the statement, the South East Health Unit had already received approximately $3.6 million in provincial funding prior to Belleville’s budget deliberations. Henderson wrote that this funding was disclosed after the municipal budget process, referring to it as “Good News” and describing it as a “one-time” funding amount.
The statement indicates that this funding could have had a significant impact on municipal budgets, including Belleville and partnering municipalities.
Henderson described the situation as a matter of transparency, stating that it relates to publicly funded organizations.
The statement also expresses concern regarding how the funding is being used, indicating that it should have been directed toward reducing the financial burden on taxpayers, rather than contributing to a reserve fund described as supporting “future financial sustainability.”
As part of the response, Henderson stated an intention to file a Freedom of Information request seeking full disclosure of allocations within the “Professional and Contract Services” category.
The councillor also indicated plans to bring forward a motion related to the provincial funding and the City of Belleville’s recently adopted budget.
This article will be updated as further information becomes available.
To keep updated with our latest news articles by having them sent straight to your email please visit www.smalltownproductions.org/signup or check out our other articles at www.smalltownproductions.org/news
Link for Donations
We’re proudly independent, with no corporate or political ties, just a commitment to truthful, fact-based reporting. Your support not only helps us stay free from outside influence but also allows us to give back to the communities we serve through meaningful coverage, outreach, and support where it matters most. If you value honest local journalism, please consider donating through the link below. Anything helps us keep you informed and make a real difference.
Comments