Governance Affordability Study

For two months this summer, Haliburton's current two-tier government structure has been studied by the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN). Now, as residents prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming municipal elections, the public is being invited to a series of meetings that explain what's on the table and why.Concern over mounting financial pressures on the county and its lower-tier municipalities led Haliburton County council to enact the study by EORN. The report provides options for enhanced long-term sustainability and analyzes four potential governance models.And while the report is available for residents to read at any time, officials thought public information sessions to explain the different models and the advantages and disadvantages of each would help everyone understand that doing nothing is not an option. That's why a series of meetings are taking place August 25ththrough August 31rst in all four municipalities, so questions can be asked and answered in an open forum.Gary Dyke spoke with CanoeFM recently to discuss the study and its next steps. He said the financial realities of the current structure are what drove the study and the results are out for everyone to consider prior to heading to the polls.