The Sun Country Regional Health Authority approved the 2016-17 budget during a special meeting held in their conference room at Tatagwa View in Weyburn on Tuesday afternoon.
The balanced budget will be forwarded to the provincial Ministry of Health for approval later this month, said CEO Marga Cugnet.
Since the budget contains no new meaningful funding increases, the balancing act is being performed through a continuation of tight fiscal management which includes savings realized through attrition and continuing with a plan that includes leaving some administrative and support positions unfilled.
Cugnet added, however, programs are not being eliminated, and, in fact, are being increased in some areas and the region will remain patient and family-oriented.
Funding of $500,000 for the newly introduced CT scanning services in Estevan has been included in the new budget as has $110,000 to accommodate cataract surgeries in Weyburn.
The budget contains a cut of about $571,000 in administrative costs which are being re-allocated to front-line staffing in long term care facilities.
Next week's edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
