qathet, BC – At the March 28, 2024 qathet Regional Hospital District (qRHD) Board Meeting, the qRHD Board adopted the 2024 Budget and 2024-2028 Financial Plan.
Highlights of the 2024 budget include the ongoing pay down of the debt for the Willingdon Creek Village Complex Care Facility and a contribution of $428 thousand in previously approved grant funding toward continued facility upgrades, renovations and the purchase of major clinical equipment for the qathet region including:
qathet General Hospital:
• Pharmacy IV Room Upgrades;
• Chiller 1 & 2 replacement;
• Roof replacement phases 1 & 2;
• Radiology fluoroscopy replacement;
• Modernization of dumbwaiters;
• OR mechanical room boiler and direct digital control upgrades;
• Replacement of high voltage breaker and transformer; and
• Generator paralleling gear upgrade.
qathet Evergreen Extended Care Unit (ECU):
- Building envelope repairs; and
- Phase 2 of ECU roofing.
This year’s $6 million budget means a $1.7 million requisition increase from that of 2023. This increase translates into residential tax rates between $19 and $21 per $100,000 of net taxable value based on the 2024 completed roll values. The increased requisition is to fund a greater contribution toward the reserve fund for future regional healthcare infrastructure and equipment needs.
“Contributions to the hospital district are collected annually through property taxes in each of the five Electoral Areas, and the City of Powell River. Funding is also provided by the Tla’amin Nation. These taxes are utilized to support and expand health care resources throughout the region,” said qathet Regional Hospital District Board Chair, George Doubt. “The need for healthcare infrastructure and equipment will continue to increase across the province due to provincial downloading, and as such the qRHD is experiencing increased requests from Vancouver Coastal Health to support necessary health service upgrades. The qRHD is often expected to contribute up to 40 percent toward the cost of these projects.”
About the qathet Regional Hospital District: The qathet Regional Hospital District does not operate hospital facilities but does contribute to health services in our region. The qathet Regional Hospital District owns Willingdon Creek Village Complex Care Facility and the former Saint John’s Ambulance building on Arbutus Street, which is currently leased to Miklat Recovery House Society. The qathet Regional Hospital District has provided hospital district lands to support the development of emergency supportive housing and designated the remainder of undeveloped campus of care lands for future health care needs. Regional Hospital District boundaries include the qathet Regional District, City of Powell River, and Tla’amin Nation. In accordance with legislation, Regional Hospital District Board members are the qathet Regional District Board members, and a member from the Tla’amin Nation. For more information on the qathet Regional Hospital District, please visit qathet.ca/regional-hospital-district.
CONTACT:
Linda Greenan, Manager of Financial Services
#202 – 4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2L2
(604) 485-2260 | finance@qathet.ca |qathet.ca