The Council discussed and approved funding for 10 percent of the total $ 1 billion cost for the second phase of the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) redevelopment project. This came after more than 10 hours of city council meetings this week.
Under the approved motion, City staff would include a separate hospital tax on annual property tax billing beginning in fiscal year 2022. This would amount to funding the Kingston Foundation of University Hospitals by more than $ 25 million during the next ten years. It is understood that the tax increase resulting from 2022 for municipal purposes would be approximately 2.1%, and that the tax increase for hospital collection purposes would be around 1.0%.
Councilor Bridget Doherty shared her concerns about the importance of the hospital remodel. According to the province’s funding requirement, if the municipal government does not contribute 10 percent of the total, the province would not provide the remaining 90 percent, which means that the project will not go ahead.
“So for all these reasons, although we are frustrated, these are not our responsibilities, these are not the responsibilities of the municipal taxpayer, we have some serious decisions to make and these decisions, if you do not support them, will have serious consequences, so if like it or not, ”said Councilmember Doherty.
“I begrudgingly support them all because that’s the right thing to do,” added Doherty.
Last week, Mayor Bryan Paterson also submitted a request for community input while reiterating the importance of the hospital’s remodel. He said that much of the current building’s facilities are outdated, too small, and in need of renovation.
He also explained that to address current and future needs, the provincial government agreed to fund a significant renovation of the hospital, which could cost up to $ 1 billion. A condition for funding is that a portion of the 10% money must be raised locally before the province finances the remaining 90% of the project.
“Because the overall hospital remodel is such a big project, that 10% stake means that a lot of local money needs to be raised,” he said.
At the local level, the group in charge of fundraising is UHKF and it has also asked the City to contribute $ 25 million for local participation.
In addition, the Council also approved funding of up to $ 250,000 per year for three years for the Integrated Care Hub. However, an amendment was made to conduct a third-party review to assess whether the Integrated Care Center (ICH) is adequately and effectively fulfilling its mandate; and assessment of the collateral impacts of ICH’s operation on the neighborhood, local residents and businesses, and the City in terms of costs, disruptions, and safety related to police, fire, first responders, trash clean-up, and waste, and use of Belle Park. and condition.
Staff will report recommendations at the last Board meeting in February 2022. Funding of $ 250,000 per year for eight years was also approved for the hiring of family physicians.
Reference-ygknews.ca