Two local MPPs are encouraging municipalities and school boards to help them find ways to save money.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson held a joint news conference at a Hanover restaurant Thursday afternoon to bolster a government announcement from earlier this week.
The province has designated $7.3 million to help municipalities and school boards conduct line-by-line audits to find savings of four cents on the dollar.
Lisa Thompson said the province is spending millions of dollars on interest payments on the debt that could otherwise be spent on frontline services.
"Making sure that everyone across Ontario understands how we're committed to making sure, we're committed to protecting what matters most in terms of front line services and essential services," said Thompson.
Bill Walker said the money spent on servicing the debt is money down the drain.
"I think the people who come to me expect me and Lisa and all of our cabinet to be handling your dollars as if it was my own and saying is this the way I would spend it, is this the way I can get maximum value and this is exactly what this announcement is about. We want those partners to come forward and work with government, not oppose the government," said Walker.