Job cuts are part of the proposed 2020 budget that has been approved by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Board members voted Monday afternoon in favour of the $22.8-million budget, which is a decrease of about 3.8 percent, or $922,000, compared to the 2019 budget.
Five non-union jobs and 4.5 union jobs will be eliminated.
"It is an austerity budget," said board chair Gary McNamara who says the main culprit for the cuts is the province — blaming a change in the cost sharing formula.
In the past, the province was responsible for 75% of the budget, and municipalities paid for 25%. But moving forward, the province is responsible for 70% of the budget, while municipalities pay for 30%.
The change means Windsor and Essex County Councils are responsible for more of the budget, about $575,000 more in 2020 compared to 2019.
The Ministry of Health also provided one-time funding of $700,000 to help soften the blow from the cost-sharing formula.
Despite the cuts, McNamara says the programs provided by the health unit will remain in tact.
"We want to make sure that our citizens in the community are taken care of, that is the number one priority and with this budget, we think we can do that but we are getting at the point where it is getting down to the nitty gritty."
He says staff and managers will have to pick up some of the load.
"There is going to be some changes in positions, there is no question about that," he says. "We can't cut anymore. The budget is so lean right now there is absolutely zero fat."