When it came to spending on social programs, P.E.I.’s Community Services and Seniors Department came in about $5 million under budget.
But Community Services Minister Valerie Docherty said it’s not as simple as saying that money could have been spent.
Docherty said there are a lot of reasons for the underspending, but her department couldn’t spend money to increase funding to programs that it might not be able to maintain in future years.
“You do the best that you can, you base your budget on previous years’ expenditures,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW MUCH THE DEPARTMENT SPENT
For the budget year ending 2014 the Community Services and Seniors Department budgeted $97.5 million for various programs such as housing grants, child care subsidies and social assistance payments.
When the public accounts were released last month they showed the department underspent by $5.2 million. That included $1.4 million less spent on housing grants, $1.3 million less on social assistance and $1.4 million less on other items such as salaries.
Docherty said the housing grants came in under budget because the federal government was late signing on to an affordable housing agreement.
The $1.4 million will be carried over and spent next year.
Social assistance payments were down because there were about 200 fewer cases last year than there were in the previous year, Docherty said.
She also said the government expected more people to require support last year because of changes to employment insurance, but that need never materialized.
The reduction in child care subsidies was attributed to fewer families entering the program.
Docherty said fewer children in care with high-level needs meant the department spent about $500,000 less than budgeted for.
The remaining savings were due mostly to lower administration and salary costs.
In the face of criticism about spending on social programs, Docherty said she is on the record as saying the government isn’t doing enough.
“We are not doing enough but we are making great strides,” she said.
Opposition Leader Steven Myers was sone of the people critical of the government for underspending.
“These budget shell games are insulting to taxpayers, to Islanders and to front line public servants trying to help with both hands tied behind their backs,” he said.
NDP leader Mike Redmond said the underspending was a result of chaotic leadership.
“Failing to move out over $5 million to Island families shows there is something very wrong in the management of the government,” Redmond said.
Green Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker said the underspending will have a long-term negative impact on vulnerable Islanders.
When it came to spending on social programs, P.E.I.’s Community Services and Seniors Department came in about $5 million under budget.
But Community Services Minister Valerie Docherty said it’s not as simple as saying that money could have been spent.
Docherty said there are a lot of reasons for the underspending, but her department couldn’t spend money to increase funding to programs that it might not be able to maintain in future years.
“You do the best that you can, you base your budget on previous years’ expenditures,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW MUCH THE DEPARTMENT SPENT
For the budget year ending 2014 the Community Services and Seniors Department budgeted $97.5 million for various programs such as housing grants, child care subsidies and social assistance payments.
When the public accounts were released last month they showed the department underspent by $5.2 million. That included $1.4 million less spent on housing grants, $1.3 million less on social assistance and $1.4 million less on other items such as salaries.
Docherty said the housing grants came in under budget because the federal government was late signing on to an affordable housing agreement.
The $1.4 million will be carried over and spent next year.
Social assistance payments were down because there were about 200 fewer cases last year than there were in the previous year, Docherty said.
She also said the government expected more people to require support last year because of changes to employment insurance, but that need never materialized.
The reduction in child care subsidies was attributed to fewer families entering the program.
Docherty said fewer children in care with high-level needs meant the department spent about $500,000 less than budgeted for.
The remaining savings were due mostly to lower administration and salary costs.
In the face of criticism about spending on social programs, Docherty said she is on the record as saying the government isn’t doing enough.
“We are not doing enough but we are making great strides,” she said.
Opposition Leader Steven Myers was sone of the people critical of the government for underspending.
“These budget shell games are insulting to taxpayers, to Islanders and to front line public servants trying to help with both hands tied behind their backs,” he said.
NDP leader Mike Redmond said the underspending was a result of chaotic leadership.
“Failing to move out over $5 million to Island families shows there is something very wrong in the management of the government,” Redmond said.
Green Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker said the underspending will have a long-term negative impact on vulnerable Islanders.
Community services 2013-2014 budget vs. spending:
Housing grants: budgeted - $4.1 million, spent - $2.7 million
Child care subsidies: budgeted - $3.5. million, spent - $3 million
Social assistance: budgeted - $34.2 million, spent - $33 million
Supports for children: budgeted - $3.2 million, spent $2.7 million
Other: budgeted - $52.4 million, spent - $51 million
Total budget - $97.5 million, total spent - $92.3 million
