Hospital district approves no-tax-increase budget

Posted on March 31, 2015 in City, Health // 0 Comments

NEWS/ REGION — The Thompson Regional Hospital district has approved its 2015 annual budget, and approved cost-sharing with the Interior Health Authority for various major equipment and renovation upgrades.

RIH trees will be replaced with a building that will look something like this. (Image from RIH Master Plan)

Drawing of Clinical Services Building. (Image from RIH Master Plan)

The 2015 annual budget will see no hospital tax increase per household on average. The average household in 2015 will pay $126.55 in hospital taxes, the same amount as 2014.

The 2015 budget employs a strategy of building a reserve in the next few years and borrowing to fulfill the board’s commitment of contributing $100 million towards the Columbia Street Services Building and the Surgical tower projects at Royal Inland Hospital. Further incorporated in this strategy is taxation stability at the current rates for the average residence.

The TRHD also approved cost sharing at 40 per cent with Interior health for various major equipment and renovation upgrades. The total sum for the upgrades is $5 million, of which the TRHD will pay about $1.97 million. The list includes four renovation projects, including a renovation of the handicapped washrooms at Merritt’s Gillis House, and two pieces of equipment — a CT scanner and an ultrasound/cardiac for RIH.

— Source: Thompson Nicola Regional District