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Powell River Regional Hospital District board approves budgets and financial plan

Powell River Regional Hospital District board of directors has approved its 2019 operating and capital budgets and the five-year financial plan.
Powell River General Hospital

Powell River Regional Hospital District board of directors has approved its 2019 operating and capital budgets and the five-year financial plan.

The budgets and financial plan were approved by the regional hospital board of directors at the Thursday, March 25, regional hospital board meeting.

A news release from Powell River Regional Hospital District states that highlights of the budget consisted of continual pay-down for the recently constructed Willingdon Creek Village Complex Care Facility; $145,000 approved grant funding to the Powell River General Hospital for the acquisition of minor capital and equipment; and $7,000 toward the proposed Powell River General Hospital garden initiative.

Overall, the 2019 budget of $2,054,783 represents a $10,243 decrease from 2018. This translates into a residential tax rate of approximately $13 per $100,000 of net taxable value based on the 2019 completed tax roll values, which is no change from that of 2018.

Although the regional hospital district (RHD) does not operate hospital facilities, it owns Willingdon Creek Village and the former St. John Ambulance building on Arbutus Avenue. Funding through the RHD is cost-shared, with the province traditionally paying 60 per cent and the RHD paying 40 per cent.

“The RHD board strives to balance the budget in a meaningful way, yet still attempt to deliver the facilities required of our population in a cost-effective manner,” said chair CaroleAnn Leishman. “An example is our partnership with BC Housing for the modular supportive housing units for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness at no direct cost to the RHD taxpayers. We continue to monitor and stay engaged with what could develop as a hospice.”