What exactly does the County do? And where do they get their money? Each year, the County issues an annual report which explains how they are organized, what each department has done in the year, how much was spent and where did the money come from. The report for 2023 has now been released. Included are detailed financial reports but unless you are an accountant, summaries are easier to understand. The budget at $213 million is much bigger than Cobourg’s ($42 million); breaking this down: operating cost is $128 million, $9.2 million is for “future strategic and infrastructure needs” and $75.6 million is for “capital and critical infrastructure”. Taxes bring in $68 million, $60.2 million comes from grants and subsidies and the rest comes from debt, reserves, fees for services and “other”.
What does the County do?
In the annual reports, “what they do” is divided by departments and I’ll try to summarize (Download the full 2023 report from the County web site – a link is below in resources).
Communications
- Manages web site, Social Media and generates graphics for these
- Creative services for Marketing
- Manages Community engagement, Government Relations and does Grant writing
Community Social Services
- Administers Community Housing and affordable housing programs
- Manages initiatives to reduce homelessness and the risk of homelessness
- Oversees system planning for licensed child care services
- Operates Food 4 All, a centralized food distribution warehouse
- Manages Ontario Works services (Welfare)
Corporate Services
- Human Resources
- Governance
- Archives
Economic Development and Planning
- Business Services – business attraction
- Tourism
- Inspections
- Planning – County wide plus some Towns
Finance
- Procurement
- Budgets
Information Technology
- Computer Services for Staff
- Cyber Security
Legal Services
- Legal Advice and representation
Golden Plough
- Manages Long Term Care home
Paramedics
- Ambulance Services and home care
Public Works
- Manage Buildings, Infrastructure and grounds
- Waste Management
- Build and maintain roads and bridges
- Asset Management
Although the above list helps understand what the County staff do, expenses and revenues are divided differently. There is extensive detail in the Annual report (see Resources) but I believe residents are primarily interested in certain projects and activities so let me list these.
Selected Expenses
- Salaries and Benefits $53 m (25% of total)
- Social and Family Services $48 m (Welfare etc)
- Social Housing $13.5 m
- Health Services (Paramedics and Golden Plough) $20.8 m
- Environmental Services (Waste Management) $18.6 m
Selected Revenues
- Tax levy $69 m
- Province $54 m
- User Charges $12 m
- Federal Government $7.3 m
- Rents $2.8 m
Selected Capital Projects for 2023
- Spent on Roads and Bridges $10.1 m
- Spent on Housing $6.4 m
Capital spread over several years
- Golden Plough lodge and NCAM – Initial budget $80 m but now more, probably over $100 m – number not explicitly provided. See more on project here.
- Campbellford Bridge – initial estimate $125 m
Measuring Performance
The above is a snapshot of how the County is organized and what it does. However, we would also like to know the goals it has and how well are they progressing towards those goals? Earlier this year, the County made its KPI dashboard public. If you go to the progress page on their dashboard, you can see what their goals are and how much progress is being made. Go here. For example, under Housing and Shelter, choose emergency shelter and you’ll see that the average occupied spaces for Q2 2024 was 84.3%. That’s defined with: “This indicator measures the combined daily occupancy rates of the Transition House Emergency Shelter and motel overflow averaged across the quarter.” (37 spaces). Then click for more detail.
I counted a total of 45 goals being measured – not all are KPIs (Key performance Indicators), some are CHIs (Community Health Indicators – e.g. Opioid Overdose Call Volumes). The difference is that the County does not control CHIs although they do care about them.
No doubt critics will find room for improvement in the Annual Report and the Dashboard – but they are certainly good things, better than not having them.
See also my report on the 2024 County budget (link in resources) which has additional information on how money is spent.
Resources
- County Annual report for 2023 (link to County web site)
- KPI Progress page
- 2024 County Budget – Cobourg Blog report – 4 December 2023
- County Information page on Cobourg Internet
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Yes the County has the info your after Rob but alternative uses or repurposing is not in the Counties agenda . What is ?? yet to be determined / disclosed ?? But you can count on this it will be at great loss to the Taxpaying Citizens .
There is no way these people want their job and duty to
deal with the real life issues out there starring them in the face every day if and when these Remote workers show up at the office Only to realize the magnitude of this growing problem
they have overlooked for years .
Just look at how fast they had the Encampment removed from their property on William st .
NIMBY Plus
Where is Cleveland on this issue – I want to hear from him. Although the property is owned by the County, the Town has tools and levers that can be used. The Town needs to be aggressive and apply pressure to ensure the decision on usage and development aligns with the strategic interests of the taxpayer and the Town – this is for more important than anything the County envisions for the property and frankly may be in direct conflict of what the County has in mind.
Unfortunately Cobourg Council has demonstrated a lack of willingness and/or foresight to make strategic decisions related to property and property acquisition – Brookside, 310D, Westwood Drive, Durham Street, Sidbrook, Park Theater, trailer park, etc…
Control your destiny or someone else will.
Jack Welch
On the one hand is the realism of NIMBY, and on the other is Utopian Thinking, which everyone is guilty of in some form, at some time, in some way. Any system that works always factors in human nature.
Turning the old GPL into rehab is an idea but the current political trend is low barrier wrap around enablement, so the usual street problems would swirl in the vicinity of children’s aid, nearby school, and senior’s home.
Rehab is its own enclosed universe and could be placed anywhere, such as an enclave outside of town. Graduates could move back to local transitional support, better able to make proper use of it. The problem is thus broken down into two steps rather than a miracle all-in-one dream.
Doug Ford recently said “I’m a big believer in detox beds to support people to get help. I’ll be very frank, I’m not sold on these safe injection sites”. There is a slow political shift toward rehab but vested interests resist.
It is a strange truth in the society we live that it is indeed cheaper to build new than to renovate something old. This is in part due to modern construction methods, the cost of labour and the way the economy works. My own utopian thinking is “it should not work that way!” yet I side with the County stance of old GPL teardown.
These thoughts did not stop the County when they chose 310 Division
Schools Senior & Nursing home , downtown ,a once great neighbourhood now under review and price reductions Highly 310 visible for all to see and avoid .
I think the Plough would be a great site for the county health and Shelter operations Closer to scrutinize close to Health services & Hospital out of sight
Why don’t you ask the Mayor to Respond ????
The County is in significant trouble and its only going to get worse with this group of head stuck ostriches at the helm. Far too concerned about protecting their collective butts rather than speaking and thinking critically about the current deteriorating addiction, mental health and homelessness situation and their role in it. 310D is not the savior. The County has not effectively addressed the issues year over year. This “soft” supporting-people-who-are-living-rough policy stated by Ostrander is a failure as demonstrated by the growing encampment, increases in drug overdoses and deaths, including 5 overdoes in 24 hours last week. Please stopping patting yourselves on the back for a less than mediocre job and a fail to listen to the taxpayers.
I would also like a report on the plans for the old GPL – they claim what is done can not be undone and the building is at the end of its life. One could assume affordable housing will be built there? A large inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility? What about a low barrier shelter system offering transitional and short term housing, wrap around services and a food bank?
Anyone have this information?
I hope we all know and realize there is more than Just the Brookside Encampment out there
that is never spoken about around Cobourg Probably more through out Northumberland
County That are never mentioned The Problem is Larger than we wish to acknowledge or our Political powers to be want us to know about.
There is obviously so many viable uses for the soon to be empty Golden Plough That responsible Govt. need & should be considered The idea of tearing it down is absurd especially when you consider how long the County has taken to build the new one . Even the new housing units at Elgin east have take nearly 3 + yrs and only half the units are complete well over budget .
The County Track Record speaks Volumes So until some thing better is there that’s up and operational to replace the opportunity that’s standing before them . The Building and Contents should not be Trashed by some short sited Idealists .
I believe the Sunshine List of County employees might do well to drive into work ever day and see just how much is actually accomplished by them in a timely fashion, and what is really needed out there .
No matter how you look at it sleeping in that Old Golden Plough under roof , which is presently in good enough condition for our Seniors today is Certainly better than Living in a Encampment , Tent and with out a decent Kitchen & Dining area not to mention Wash rooms and showers .
Its already there and centralized and at present operational
The Building is already divisible with a contained secure unit for Alzheimer’s & Dementia patients
ideal for some Drug & Mental Health treatment situations .
Sure Beats sleeping on the Ground !,
or trying to jame everyone and more to come in little old 310 Division
Situating drug addicts and their enablers next to a building of vulnerable seniors, their guests and staff will just lead to more problems.
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that this facility could operate without concentrated efforts toward recovery , dedicated staffing and sadly, some restrictions. This is where these folks have driven society, to suggest the care required. Uncontrolled illegal drug use and expectation that these troubled people may have a healthy existence without intervention has made it clear over time that a new approach needs to be employed.
and a little fencing like they have come to accept at Brook side to keep people in or out — I am not sure of the Logic behind that especially when Private property is being fenced
as well ???? Hummmmmmm
Jim T – Folks are finally listening to what you’ve said for months – perhaps years- about uses vs destruction of the Golden Lough. Better late than never !
The 2023 report (pg 32) announces the MarCom Gold award was received for the design of the 2022 Annual Report. Not mentioned is the County paid $195 for it. https://marcomawards.com/faq/
Other random observations:
Northumberland County Forest is doing prescribed burns (pg37), which is what Jasper failed to do.
“Develop a Golden Plough Lodge Diversity Plan” (pg43). Discriminate based on race?
The budget surplus increased 12% to $279M, while long term debt and liabilities remained around $12M. This means taxes and fees could freeze.
The cost of Elgin Park subsidized housing is $343K/unit capital cost for 40 units and then ongoing cost on subsidy and maintenance.
The County talks of “expanding pathways out of homelessness” (pg44) but nowhere in the report is mention of the drug problem. The step zero to solving a problem is to name it.
The words “poverty”, “drug”, “crime”, “encampment” and “addict” never appear in the 2023 Annual Report. “Senior” appears only once but “diversity” is used 3 times. It is obvious that the concerns of residents are not important to County people!
I attach the article in Today’s Northumberland News with regard to the latest on Brian Ostrander and social services have been “accomplishing”. Glad I did not have breakfast yet it may have reappeared after reading this:
https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2024/08/16/northumberland-county-social-services-prepares-for-brookside-sale/
Are you kidding Councilor Martin?!!!! Whose who at the zoo?!! Deplorable behaviour and words coming from a seat where you are part of a decision making process. Kudos to Our mayor who is trying to make County council look behind the curtain and push for meaningful change. I also advocate for County Council to push forward on a meaningful path to protect our communities and the people lacking the skills to help themselves in my previous post below. It’s not enough to continually throw their collective hands in the air and say we cannot force people into making change. That would be true if we were not dealing with people repeatedly requiring medical intervention as they “chase the dragon” to revive them back into their dismal existence. It is also not enough to keep, as Lucas pointed out, expecting a different result from the same applications. Do County really think giving food,safe supply, cell phones (as mentioned in the County budget breakdown) and open a ridiculous 24 hr. Hub is the best that they can offer….been there, done that, we all have the receipts in our taxes. Time to advocate for organized care facilities for mental health and addiction and NOT destroy a viable building ….(the present Golden Plough.)…as at least a place to start rather than developing a nice little park/court yard on that site
Dave
Northumberland Council members, excluding Mayor Cleveland are such lightweights. They have drunk too much Justin juice. The impending closing of the Brookside encampment will cause chaos for all of the Come to Jesus Northumberland Councillors and employees who can’t plan more than one day in advance.
Old Sailor, I don’t think the Northumberland Councilors etc have had a “come to Jesus” moment. Jesus would have told the drug addicts to get their shit together and stop being victims and maybe slapped them upside the head to make sure they get the point. These people are socialists, sprinkled with a heavy dose of Marxist ideology.
I agree that property taxes are not where the solution burden needs to be placed. The provincial and federal governments need to step up.
Does it matter? Provincial and federal taxes just come from your other pocket.
Thanks Dave, it was an interesting read. Summer is coming to an end, students are getting ready for school and we are watching, reading, listening to what will become of the Brookside encampment. Our mayor doesn’t want any encampments. There are good reasons to not want any. I also read this morning that Ontario has about 1400 encampments. That is about 3 per municipality, or 2 for Cobourg based on population. It seems we will be getting more information about the sale of Brookside and the eviction of the encampment soon. Will 310 Division be fully operational about the same time? Will the residents of the Golden Plough be moved into the new building first? Our mayor stated there are people at the encampment who are not capable of making their own decisions due to drugs and mental health issues. If this is true then at least some of these people will not be making good decisions. Will they accept help and move into 310D? Will they start a new encampment? Will they move to one of the other 1400 encampments in Ontario? It will be an interesting fall season with each level of government blaming the others and all wanting more tax money.
How did Mandy Martin become Cramahe’s Mayor? It doesn’t take a degree in health sciences to know when an obvious drug addict is cognitively impaired Mandy. We, the people, are not idiots.
Yes Nikki anyone would know this. There comes a point in addiction whether it be through drug or alcohol when a person’s cognitive abilities are severely affected. The term wet brain is usually applied at that stage. Brain cells killed off with the continued use of the substance. Brain cells that will never return. Mandy Martin should educate herself before making such statements. There is no other thing to be done but institutionalize them. They are no longer capable of looking after themselves and are a danger to themselves and others.
Same could be said for some of the still functioning addicts I don’t feel it is appropriate to stand asking them what it is they would like at the expense of everyone else.
Interesting to me that the accomodation of the museum and archives is coming before the concern for those suffering with mental health and addiction and unhoused. Delaying demolition of the present Golden Plough, a building that could help in creating a care facility for one or both of these concerns …..if they are separate…., makes far more sense than leaving these folks on the street. We are well aware that few will enter 310 Division and it is already unable to accept the numbers of lost souls in our Town, let alone our County. Our County needs to push forward reform to enable emergencies agents to have discretion to place folks that continue to be at risk or continue to harm themselves in care ,even if short term, where progress may begin. These person are immediately identifiable by way of repeated recessitations, vagrancy or arrests. Perhaps the salaries which are the top item of expenses should be earned.
If the homeless may/ won’t go into 310 Division Street by choice because it doesn’t meet their demands ,what makes you think they’ll go into the Golden Plough ?
I previously thought that the “law is the law”regardless of the crime as there were consequences if not complied with however that doesn’t seem to be the case now.
The violators obviously are in charge of the decision making not the authorities.
It appears there are none for refusal of aid /repeat offending /arrests etc.while the concerns /safety of law abiding citizens is secondary.
It’s well overdue that the saying “the dog controls wagging its tail” ,applies and not the complete opposite as that has become the norm when it comes to this homeless situation.
There apparently is no supply shortage of /dealers /drugs it appears nor public feedback from the local authorities re arrests of drug dealers..
Agree,Bill, my thought is that there is coming a recognition that people not capable of caring for themselves need a place with structured recovery and assistance. This place may include mandated admittance due to repeated occasions of emergency relief which would demonstrate inability to survive in an independent manor. My suggestion is that it is a wasteful of the County to not reconsider use of existing resources ( the Plough) for repurposing in favour of a parkette. Our police and outreach workers need to have a facility to direct folks into……there is more than homelessness at play here.
In Northumberland County’s alternate fluffy pink universe, the 2023 annual report ticked all of their reporting requirements. I read the reporting on 310 Division Street’s ambitions. None of those ambitions were to “shape the integration of shelter services” in a manner consistent with Cobourg’s Emergency Care Licensing Bylaw.
With a total accumulated surplus of some $278 million, those who control the County’s purse
strings should be spending some of that on being a responsible complying neighbour at 310 Division Street.
I have not read of any local problems caused by the residents at Cobourg’s Canadian Centre
for Addictions – just up the street at 420 Division Street.
So true, 420 Division have been good neighbours thus far. It takes more than a code of conduct to reign in the atrocities we are exposed to daily……The 24 hr. Hub is going to be the downfall of 310.…..
WOW, no comments, I guess John every on of your pundits are in favour of the report!
Now, let’s hope the County doesn’t destroy the old “Golden Plough” after the new one is completed, but instead turn it into something more useful, there are many choices.
Respectively, Merle Gingrich