The county came calling this week at city hall.
Simcoe County officials are looking $25 million from the City of Barrie, which is a 10.6 per cent increase over last year, or approximately $2.4 million.
The request, which was made during Monday night's city council meeting, includes more than $8.1 million, or a 13.5 per cent hike, for health and emergency services, such as paramedic coverage and long-term care and seniors services, as well as $12.6 million for social and community services, such as Ontario Works and social housing, which represents an 81. per cent increase.
Other line items include the Simcoe County Archives ($48,000) and the museum ($63,000), as well as $75,000 for the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.
The city sold its shares in the airport to the county earlier this year, but the city still contributes to its budget.
The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport charge is new due to the ownership change and represents an approximately $375,000 cost reduction for Barrie from 2019.
The county's request to the city also includes around $4 million to capital projects, a $407,000 increase, or 11.5 per cent.
Some of those 'major facilities construction' projects include the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus being built on Fairview Road in Barrie, as well as a paramedic post in the central-east area of the city. There are also upgrades to the ambulance fleet and new CPR equipment.
Similar to virtually all service partners the city works with, provincial funding cuts have meant those costs are being downloaded to municipalities.
According to county officials, provincial funding changes have "significantly" impacted Children & Community Services, Ontario Works, and paramedic services with more moderate impacts to long-term care and housing.
"There were cuts in funding to all but one of our social and housing services," Trevor Wilcox, the county's general manager of corporate performance, said in his presentation to city council.
Seven per cent of the 10 per cent operating budget increase is driven by those provincial funding reductions, officials said.
Meanwhile, capital charges are higher for 2020 due to higher needs for the Simcoe County Housing Corporation and financing payment for $17.2 million in outstanding major facilities construction financed projects.
Councillors will begin deliberations, with the city budget expected to be passed in December.
