Over the last few weeks I have talked about the importance of our hospital. As Milton’s population grows, every level of government needs to make funding our healthcare system a priority. The economy has been on the front burner now for the last year or so which has put the issue further from Canadians minds.
So far it looks like the province of Ontario will continue to ignore Haltons needs, the Region is doing what it can to pressure other levels of government for funding and now we can include the Town of Milton.
Every year the Town of Milton uses revenues from the Mohawk Racetrack and they allocate that money through whats known as the Milton Community Fund. With the election of this new council back in 2006, the Milton Community Fund has been slashed by $ 150,000 and there are a number of organizations left without funding. Add Milton District Hospital to that list.
Click here for the article in the Champion.
The hospital you say? Indeed one would think that if the Milton District Hospital applied for funding that, if reasonable, it would be granted. Nope. They were denied their funding because they failed to prioritize the equipment.
While the Town seems to be pushing forward its proposal for a FORTY million dollar arts and entertainment centre, which the Town has allocated $100,000 per year from the fund for the centre, is pushing aside the needs of our hospital. The hospital applied for a $93.000 grant and it was denied.
Where are their priorities? Arts and Entertainment Centre or the health care system of the town. While $93,000 isnt a lot of money and the funds were for surgical products and diagnostic tools it shows that the priorities of town council have changed in the last election.
We are facing the toughest economic times due to a global recession. Jobs are being lost almost daily in all industries. Citigroup cut 52,000 jobs worldwide in a day; CanWest cut thousands of jobs early in November with CTV and other media groups following suit; not to mention the auto industry which has been hemeraging cash and jobs for the last year.
Given these facts, everything on the table has to be considered for cuts in order to minimize the financial impact on taxpayers. In my current position with HSBC Finance, I see on a daily basis more and more people who are dealing with increasing debt loads and its coupled with dwindling real estate values on their homes. Banks are getting more and more stingy with credit and people are living off their lines of credit. If governments continue with higher and higher property taxes and continuous spending of much needed reserve funds, it will just add to the problem.
Do we need further transit funding in 2009? Probably not. The town has spent MILLIONS of dollars on new buses to drive around town empty (unless its a FREE FARE program) and until they can figure out how to get someone at Main Street and James Snow Parkway to Thompson and Derry Road in less than 1 hour, there will be no further need for buses. Members of council who have pushed all this funding for a transit system that isnt being utilized properly need to realize the issues and until they are resolved, a hold on funding should be in place. In the 2009 budget there is close to $500,000 for transit. That can be allocated to other more essential services the town provides OR can it go towards reducing the proposed rate increase for the year?
What about this arts and entertainment centre or for that matter the second half of the Milton Sports Centre? There are some other projects that the Town should consider putting on hold or cancelling for that matter until the Town is back in a solid financial position.
Dont get me wrong. I do support these iniatives and it will bring needed jobs to the region but NOW is the time to get the financial house in order and consider the impact of these decisions on the taxpayers of Milton. We need to look at the impact on the taxpayer who will be under seige from all levels of government. Council doesnt see the big picture and it seems to have their priorities in the wrong place.
December 8th will be a big day. Let your councillors know what you think.