Council here has agreed to provide a grant to the Hillsburgh Medical Centre to cover the town portion of property taxes there.
Earlier this month, the town received a letter from Ivan Gray, chairman of the centre, requesting the grant to help cover expenses in the wake of the loss of a doctor. But councillors seemed puzzled by the $4,383 figure in the letter, which represented the centre’s total tax bill.
“Why should we pay the school board’s portion?” councillor Barb Tocher wondered aloud.
Finance Director Sharon Marshall explained the actual town portion is about $615.
Councillor Ken Chapman lauded the work done by the centre and was in favour of providing the grant.
Mayor Rod Finnie, who earlier noted the town already covers snow removal for the centre – at a cost of about $4,200 – suggested deferring the request pending further details, and council agreed.
Last week, Finnie said Gray would be happy to receive any funding from the town. Council unanimously agreed to provide the centre with a $615 grant.
