The Economic Development Committee in Wellington County has dished out some reserve money for the purposes of contingency for the Ride Well program.
Ride Well, a local rideshare program that targets rural areas, has seen a lot of demand since its inception a few years ago.
At a Tuesday meeting, County Warden Andy Lennox put out a motion to repurpose $600,000.
These reserve funds originally intended for rural broadband initiatives will now head towards Ride Well as contingency, as Lennox explained broadband is now provincially covered.
Lennox added there's doubt about what the future looks like for the Ride Well program, which will see its grant funding end in 2025. He added keeping doorways open for those who lack transportation in a rural area is vital.
"Ride Well, I believe, has an important role - particularly in a rural context where if you can't drive - if you don't have a license or a car, or maybe you've lost your license because of health reasons, you have very few options for transportation," Lennox stated.
Coun. Dianne Ballantyne seconded the motion.
Lennox, meanwhile, says no commitment has been made to Ride Well yet; that will require a thorough decision-making process. He stated this decision will put an emphasis on the importance of future projects and the decision to approve or not.
"I think we just have to be extra diligent in the projects we approve going forward, and look very carefully at addressing needs vs. wants and make sure we're spending our money most wisely for our residents," Lennox said.
A 0.5 per cent tax decrease in 2024 will occur as a result. Wellington County Treasurer Ken DeHart says that 2025 could also look very different. He projected at least a 0.5 per cent jump in the rate of taxes for that calendar year.
Lennox added this, like all budget decisions, was the result of a broad look at all areas.
"I look at the county's budget as a whole when I'm trying to make decisions. Not specifically from one department- economic development, roads or what have you, but the overall impact and what I believe is important to the residents that we serve," Lennox observed.
The move will come into effect in the upcoming 2024 budget.
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