The Business Improvements Areas (BIA) across Windsor have agreed they will no longer use their budgets to help fight the proposed location for the new hospital.
Instead, the BIAs will use money in their cash reserves.
City administration met with three of the nine BIAs on Thursday to talk about the budget and come up with a solution.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said May 17 that the BIA donations to help Citizens for an Accountable Mega Hospital Planning Process (CAMPP) with their appeal at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal could contravene the Municipal Act. He said the BIA boards could be dissolved by city council or council could choose to reduce each BIA's budget.
A report to council stated donations to CAMPP are not part of the BIA mandate. The mandate of a BIA is to oversee the improvement, beautification, and maintenance of specific municipal properties within the BIA and to promote the designated area as a business or shopping area.
CAMPP wants to have the location of a new acute care hospital reconsidered and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise $100,000 for its legal battle.
The matter was to be discussed May 27, but was deferred until Monday night.
The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association has pledged $5,000. Via Italia, the Erie Street BIA, has donated $2,500. The Wyandotte Town Centre BIA donated $1,000, but has since reconsidered until after city council made its decision.
Monday night, Windsor councillors approved the entire 2019 budget for all nine BIAs.
The DWBIA got a levy of $643,172 approved, which is an increase of 13 per cent from last year, while the Via Italia Erie Street BIA got a 25 per cent increase. The Wyandotte Town Centre BIA received $94,000, which is the same as last year.
The city is also allowing each of the BIAs to formally keep their budget surpluses in a reserve at the end of the year.