Proposed hospital budget could increase Okanagan Similkameen property taxes

PENTICTON – The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District board is proposing an increase in this year's hospital budget which will have an impact on property taxes.

The proposed hospital budget, which received first reading last week, is up $287,500 from last year, increasing the average regional district property tax assessment by $5 from $96 to $101.

Interior Health is also seeking $1,705,000 in capital funding for 2016.

Capital projects envisioned include two construction projects in excess of $100,000, including food services renovations at Penticton Regional Hospital and tub room renovations at Sunnybrook Centre in Oliver.

Six other construction projects under $100,000 are also on the books for 2016, including a new motor control centre and replacement of heating control valves for Princeton General Hospital, and entrance upgrade at Summerland Memorial Health Centre, electrical upgrades for in patient rooms and a nursing station renovation in day surgery  at Penticton Regional Hospital and a new heat exchanger at McKinney Place in Oliver.

Plans to update medstations at Penticton Regional Hospital and South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver are also included at a cost of about $100,000.

Other projects include communications improvements to telephone infrastructure and wireless infrastructure expansion at several Interior Health facilities.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.