Casselholme levy could increase by $1 million, Anthony says

No final numbers are available, but Coun. Mike Anthony says Casselholme’s levy to North Bay could potentially double from $1 million to $2 million, and perhaps even more.

Anthony, who has been on the Cassellholme board for approximately 18 months, said the home for the elderly finds itself in an “extremely frustrating” situation.

“Funds to keep up and improve the level of service are not forthcoming from the province, and, in my opinion, municipalities like North Bay simply cannot keep trying to make up the shortfall,” Anthony said Tuesday.

Cassellholme, Anthony said, has good staff doing their best to provide “the best possible care,” and the board strives to maintain “a positive environment” for residents.

“First, let me say that Cassellholme has good staff, doing their best to provide the best possible care, and the board is striving to maintain a positive environment for residents, who are the elderly of our community.

Anthony said the potential increase can’t be compared to the situation at the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, which plans to spend the $300,000 North Bay council expected it would save.

“I must stress that this is not the same situation as at the Health Unit, where a decrease in the levy was expected, but the board there voted to expand services and staff and eliminate the savings,” Anthony said.

“In a different scenario, Cassellholme is faced with the “you shall” and “you must” syndrome, without enough funds to make the improvements.”

A variety of compliance and upgrade issues will be affecting the Cassellholme budget, Anthony said, and municipal levies will likely have to be increased to make the improvements.

“In my mind this situation at Cassellholme is wrong. There is only one taxpayer, but that taxpayer is paying for health care twice,” Anthony said.

“The province already draws funds that should go towards health care, and now has added the new infamous health care premium tax. And yet, to supply adequate care and improve the facility, cities make up the shortfall in dollars. How is this fair?”

Anthony said he spoke to a senior policy advisor who gave him a copy of a letter sent to the parliamentary assistant for long term health care, Nipissing MPP Monique Smith.

The letter stresses the fact that Ontario cities cannot afford to fund long term health care and that the province has to keep its election commitment to increase long term health care funding to $6,000 per day, per resident, to supply adequate base funding.

“So far only a portion of that anticipated cash transfusion has shown up and only incrementally over two years,” Anthony said.

“As well, the AMO letter further states that compliance orders should come with accompanying funding,” Anthony said.

He believes the Cassellholme board will have to approach Smith for an emergency meeting “to try to alleviate” these stresses.

“I’ll push for that that at the next Cassellholme meeting on Jan. 18, as well as other options, rather than levying the municipal taxpayers,” Anthony said.

“Initial ideas are a loan or further line of credit for Cassellholme, while financial improvements could be worked out with the province.”

There’s no question, Anthony said, that Cassellholme needs Smith’s help.

“She was bang-on with her motion to look at re-instating the spring bear hunt, and she pushed for that because it affected our area so much,” Anthony said

“I believe we need to partner with her to improve the funding situation for Cassellholme, because in this area, municipal taxpayers simply cannot bear the burden of these levies anymore. If she can get the same push for this issue as she did for the bear issue, I believe we have a hope.”