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A letter to the editor
A tax or a "donation"..and a solution offeredThe Hospital "situation" has been with us for some time. The argument for or against the necessity for a new hospital is slipping into the background of the public's interest, and now the ground has shifted to the fundraising. This is where the atmosphere gets rarified and interesting.
The NHCC Board has seized upon the idea of raising funds by imposing and collecting a levy from the citizens of the catchment area at the County level. The sum being proposed is $50.00 per household per year for five years; a total of $250.00. So far so good… a simple idea…hit everybody who will use the hospital with a "building fee". But wait a minute; nothing is ever so simple! Let me illustrate some of the problems of this simple idea. Firstly the idea may be illegal, taxes raised by a general levy can only be used for specific purposes; is building a hospital one of those purposes? Secondly why should only Port Hopers and Cobourgers pay twice.
The NHCC has decided to sell the Port Hope hospital to raise $2 million. This asset belongs to the hearts and minds of Port Hopers. Also Cobourg Council has enthusiastically decided to donate $2 million of services (without public input I might add). These "donations" from Port Hope and Cobourg are valued at $250.00 per household. If that is the case why should the householders now be asked to pay another $250.00. And do not forget they are also paying the remainder of the 70% ($55 million) through their income taxes.
There is a problem with the "donation"…it is not tax deductible. The citizens of London Ont. discovered this fact for us when their council "donated" $18 million to a $330 million fundraising effort by the London Health Sciences Centre. Municipalities may issue tax receipts when donations are received for charitable purposes conducted by the municipality. When the Municipality gives on behalf of its citizens the municipality gives; not the "donating" taxpayers. So the taxpayer is out of luck even though his "tax" is being treated as a third party "donation" by Council.
In the USA actions like this, the raising of money by general taxation, for non-municipal purposes, have to be put on the ballot. I think that is a good idea. Putting this item on a ballot would lend closure to the issue, determine the true public interest and could be cheap. I would suggest that people who would want to vote could go to a public place, the Library seems good, and cast a ballot. If the voting station was to be run by volunteers and held over a few days the cost would be minimal. Cheating could be avoided by using the recent enumeration rolls, remember they are supposed to be accurate enough to run a provincial election with, and the whole operation would be a huge demonstration of public democracy. To avoid controversy the question would have to be clear and concise. I suggest "Are you in favour of imposing a levy on each household for the purposes of building a new hospital?"
Now
I know this idea sounds peculiar: elections run by volunteers over a period
of days to decide a minor issue but the principles are huge. As others
have noted before, democracy is not neat and tidy but it is the best system
there is. And I think that if Cobourg is to continue its progressive ways
a vote is a neat way to settle this issue, and perhaps local democracy
may break out and our elected officials will take note.
Hospital Funding - a solution offered