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To offset that blow, the region made an eight-year deal .to give York’s three hospitals $7.4 million a year â€" 2 per cent of the region’s general tax increase, said Newmarket MayorTonyVan Bynen, chairperson of the region's finance and administration committee. That deal ends next year. Before 1998, municipalities were able to work these fees into new home and commercial construction costs, thereby putting some of the burgeoning health care costs on new homebuyers, a growth-pays-for-growth situation, Mr. Van Bynen said. Having municipal property owners fund hospital construction began in 2001 after the Mike Harris Tories said, in 1998, municipalities could no lon- ger collect capital funding through its Development Charges Act. BY TERESA LATCHPORD Staff Writer A 3-per-Cent tax levy for Yon: Region hospital capital expansions amounts to about $123 a year for the average homeowner. York Region’s hospitals, including a yet-toâ€"be-built facility in Vaughan, say they will need $2.2 billion in capital funding to keep up with growing health care demands. To meet that demand and because of a shortfall of provincial funding, a hospital coalition asked the region for a $486-million commitment -â€"- a com- mitment that will mean a tax hike of 3 per cent, according to a report to the region's finance committee. But the Harris government put a wrench in those plans, amending the act and taking away power from munic- ipalities that almost immediately felt a huge funding loss, he added. - This new request, which amounts to an uncapped 3 per cent of the region’s total tax collection, is simply an exten- sion of the previous funding commit- ment, said Chris Benedetti, spokesper- son for York’s hospital coalition. The reason for the 1 per cent increase is because capital requirements have changed over the past eight years, he added, however, Mr. Van Bynen argues it is a new ball game altogether. The previous $7.4-million annual payment was capped or consistent over eight years and will decrease in the final year to $4 million. That works out to about $2,214 over 18 years, according to assessment fig- ures provided by the region. The new proposal, however, would amount to $21 million annually in the first year and rises as the region's tax col- lection to nearly $33 million by 2027. York Region Media Group newspa- pers have been inundated with angry letters and calls about the proposed levy, most pointing the finger at the province. “This idea is outrageous," resident Rob Chip said. “The provincial government has Levy would cost you $123 annually been collecting a health tax for several years now and I have yet to see a signifi- cant change in the health care system,” Mr. Chip added. Hospital wait times have become shorter but waiting to be seen by a doc- tor after being shown to the examina- tion room has increased, he said. Not to mention there’s a shortage of doctors. “Since the provincial government currently does not seem to be using the money they have been collecting to better the system, the hospitals that need more money should be [mocking on the door of the provincial govem- ment, since they already have it," Mr. Chip said. Resident Anthony Samotus agrees, pointing out the government just spent $265 million on GM with the right to recover only $35 million if the contract was breeched. Another $32 million was given to cultural groups. “It seems the funds may be avail- able, but Premier Dalton McGuinty and his gang have put cricket pitches and Jewish and Iranian culture before the health of the province,” he added. 144 main street north, unit 7, markham, on 905.472.9939 Tuesday â€" Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm open late Thursday utcolourcutcolourcutcolour dyson bruce studio Kevin Rydzik has a hard time believ- TONY VAN BYNEN: Newmarket mayor says levy proposal is the fist step in process to find cash forYork hospitals. it's who you are... ing the provincial health tax, which collects hundreds of dollars from Ontarian's incomes a year (an average of about $600) isn't enough to cover costs. “The government needs to live with- in its means," he said. “There is only so much money to go around so they had better use it more effectively." Housifig Help Centre This message brought to you as a community service of The Economist 8 SUNSun-Tribme The region is being shortchanged HELEN MBZEK: Liberal MPP says communities responsible for 10 per cent of construction costs. MAM mm M)” by w: Pam." m M Cmm You can get more energy saving ideas from our sponsors hydr 8 B'é because the current government fails to recognize the growth pressures on York Region hospitals, Conservative MPP Frank Klees said. It is the same government who imposed intensification and develop- ment on municipalities through the Places to Grow Act and then tums a blind eye to the infrastructure needed to support the development, he noted. NEWMA FRANK KLEES: Tory MPP says prov- ince shortchangng region and fail- ing to recognize growth pressures. W Sun-WI Saturday, [um 14, 2008 9 VERIDIAN (OI-OK I'll. In turn unnul nun YOUI COMMUN l TY Thu message brought to you as a community service of The Economist a. Sun Media sponsors 'H