Windsor receives $19M to tackle budget deficit

A fresh injection of cash from other levels of government has reduced the City of Windsor's projected deficit by $19 million, the city says.

The city said in a media release Monday it will bereceiving about $19 million fromthree programs for municipalities, including$6.1million from a public transit fund under thefederal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement.

Mayor Drew Dilkenssaid he received letters in the last weekfromprovincial Transportation MinisterCaroline Mulroney and Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark promising additional COVID-19 support.

"We always knew that funding would be provided in small individual grants we just didn't expect the province of Ontario to respond this quickly!" he said in a media release.

"We still have at least [a]$19-million deficit to mitigate, and the City of Windsor is committed to doing its part to find further internal savings, but we will likely still need further support from the federal government."

The city passed its annual budget in late Februarywith no tax increase despite a $38-million deficit. At the time, officials said they expected to make up for the COVID-19-related shortfall through funding anticipated from other levels of government.

The city said in a media release on Monday that additional "COVID-19-related pressures" are continuing to affect that initial $38-million estimate, including costs related to the temporary emergency shelter set up at theWindsor International Aquatic and Training Centre.