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I can't imagine this passes before October. And if you notice the wording before it: "including, but not limited to," it might not even happen if they find a better way. I believe the pressure will be on to find another way- nobody likes to be the government that raised taxes in an election year.

In debating this remember the Province has the last say in whether the hospital is expanded.

I sent the following email to all Milton councillors. FYI

Councillor Lunau has a Notice of Motion on the May 17 Council meeting agenda regarding local funding of Milton hospital expansion. She offers 2 possible methods of funding. I support the intent but suggest that a third alternative be included.

GTA Pooling is a provincial program that began in 1998 and required surrounding GTA municipalities to send money to support Toronto's social programs. The 2007 Halton budget for GTA Pooling was $41 million or $182 per Halton household.

In January 2007, the Province ended the GTA Pooling program with a phase-out over 6 years. Rather than return these surplus taxes to Halton residents in tax reductions, Region Council voted to keep collecting it - kinda like a retailer who still collects 7% GST and pockets the 2% difference cuz he needs the money. That was about $7 million in extra taxes in 2007, $14 million in 2008, and so on until it becomes an extra $41 million in 2013 and every year thereafter.

On July 11, 2007 Region Council agreed to build the 2008 budget on the assumption they would continue to collect the $41 million for GTA Pooling even though only about $28 million had to be sent to Toronto in 2008. They also agreed on a division of the remaining $13 million whereby half the surplus taxes would be kept by the Region and the other half split between the municipalities.

Milton has been receiving a share of the loot which will increase until 2013, and probably continue forever. How can Milton councillors justify raising taxes for hospital expansion when there is already a stream of unwarranted surplus from Milton taxpayers?

I suggest a third funding option that would capture Milton's yearly share of the GTA Pooling loot in a Hospital Expansion Reserve Fund.

Since Milton would be responsible for a portion of the funding for an expansion of the Milton hospital I agree it makes good sense to start building the fund now rather than later.

I also like the idea of redirecting an already collected but no longer applicable to its original purpose tax to the fund.

One thing I would like to see is that the tax be clearly called the "Milton Hospital Growth Fund Tax" rather than referring to it as the no longer needed GTA Pooling Tax, that way we as taxpayers would get a clear indication of why we are paying this tax.

Gerry Marsh
Candidate for Mayor

Here is the link to the motion so everyone can read what is being asked.

Like Gerry and Garlis, I would like to see what the councillors have to say about the GTA pooling funds. If it came down to a levy on Milton residents, Im sure people would give it due consideration. But if theres already a tax flowing out from us, why not use that?

_________________
Mike Cluett
Local/Regional Councillor
Wards 1,6,7 & 8

Website | Email mike@mikecluett.ca | Cell (647) 888-9032 | Facebook Page | | Twitter @Mike_Cluett

Thanks to councillor Lunau for having local hospital funding on the May 17 council agenda and for having the Halton hospital brass present. Thanks to councillor Best for having staff prepare for a question on GTA Pooling funds.

For the record, 3 key points were covered:
- John Oliver, CEO of Halton Healthcare Services stated that hospital expansions in Oakville and Burlington have no bearing on the need for expansion in Milton. Each hospital will serve the basic needs of its own community.
- He also confirmed that municipalities that can demonstrate their ability to raise the funds for required local capital are more likely to get priority from the province. Start saving now - even if the target amount is just a guess.
- Treasurer Leeds answered councillor Best's question by stating that Milton currently gets $1.5 million in GTA Pooling funds, increasing to $2.5 million in 2013 and beyond.

We pay the province a healthcare surcharge on income tax. We have been ripped off for $41 million per year by the Region for GTA Pooling that is no longer needed. Milton gets about $6 million per year in bonus funding from Mohawk, and the profits from Milton hydro. Some politicians at all levels would have you believe that all of these funds are required for "infrastructure" and the hospital expansion must be funded with new tax increases and bake sales. Bull crap! The vast majority in Milton would agree that hospital expansion is a top capital priority, yet the province and the municipality conspire to spend all available funds on culture centers, tennis club in Campbellville, million dollar walls, etc. (projects that would never get majority approval for funding if they required a tax increase). Provincial and municipal politicians should get their priorities straight or they can compare notes in the unemployment lines by the end of next year.

The easiest source of funding for Milton is the GTA Pooling stream, especially the incremental million dollars per year that the town has not received and spent yet. Even that commitment should be enough to show good faith to the province. As hospital approvals move forward Milton can review capital priorities and free up more of the large revenue streams to pay off the local capital charge.

The hospital funding issue will be back to council on June 28. No tax increase needed. Speak up people!

Part of my job lately as a reporter has been as devil's advocate. I've asked this question of several councillors via email, and here on another thread:

What if the Province says no?

The answer I've been getting- I've only gotten one from Ted Chudleigh was that he couldn't concieve of them saying no. Playing devil's adovate: this province is in debt, there are other places in the same boat competing for the same money. It could be quite concievable we don't get it.

Is there a plan "B?"

If the province see's we have a "Plan B" in place if we don't get support to expand the hospital, might they just then think "well looks like Milton will still be ok if we don't move forward on their hospital, so lets instead focus on other similar communities who will be s-o-l if they don't get their hospitals expanded."

I realize I'm not a political wunderkind in provincial politics, but wouldn't it be better for us to conceive of Plan Bs but not harp on it to much with the media (i.e. you Laura ) so not to have that in the press which would then take some of the wind out of our sails for our main Plan A?

Btw when you say province says no, do you mean no on the part of not being able to use development charges as one of multiple methods to build up our warchest for our share of the hospital expansion? Or just no on the hospital expansion all together? Or if the province says no we can't resist/stop growing our population even if we don't get our hospital expanded? (i.e. in regards to us linking our future residential development to the hospital expansion).

I'm just following this through for the sake of argument really. Isn't it prudent planning to have a "plan B?" Don't businesses (back me up business-owners) always have a backup position, especially when they're committing the kind of money we're talking about here?

Rick: I'm saying: What if the province says No to hospital expansion altogether?

That might very well be the province's attitude- "Milton will still be okay, " if we show them a "plan B." They might very well come to that conclusion without our plan "B"- they could also say- there's a beatiful new hospital being built right at the Oakville border- they can use that one. But doesn't common sense indicate it's not a good idea to put all those eggs in one basket?

I'm not saying to give up. All I'm saying is to be aware of the possibility the word "no" does exist, and governments are unafraid to use it.

I know it's not a good idea to harp on it in the media- that's a bad way to manage the message about a new hospital. But at the same time- I think it's my job to ask questions like this.

I don't mean to be the doom-and-gloom person. I just think it's a possibility, and a legitmate question to be asked. And with something this big, that literally affects everyone in town- isn't it important to take into account all scenarios, and possibilities before we proceed further?

In spite of the strong consensus that a Milton hospital expansion is required it seems that even informed Miltonians, and council, are unsure about how to proceed. I think the reason for the uncertainty is that there are 2 issues that should be addressed separately when the timing is right, not one single issue.

1) How to get the hospital expansion moving. This does not require an upfront commitment by the Province or an estimate of the size of the local funding requirement. This issue can be resolved by council on June 28 with a statement of commitment to hospital expansion, establishment of a Hospital Expansion Reserve Fund, whatever initial funding is available (a share of the 2009 surplus?), and enough ongoing funding from existing sources (GTA Pooling?) WITHOUT a tax increase - just to show the Province we are serious.

2) How to fund the local capital requirement. When the Province gives a timing for the expansion, and when there is a good estimate of local capital requirements, council can determine how best to increase the Hospital Expansion Reserve Fund to required levels - perhaps even including (shudder) a tax increase.

Hospital expansion is much easier to contemplate if it is separated into 2 issues. An easier one that needs to be dealt with now, and one for the next council.

Why hasnt anyone brought up PPP Public Private Partnerships when it comes to building the hospital. I remember the day that nanny Dalton said he opposed it until he decided to support it.

_________________
Mike Cluett
Local/Regional Councillor
Wards 1,6,7 & 8

Website | Email mike@mikecluett.ca | Cell (647) 888-9032 | Facebook Page | | Twitter @Mike_Cluett