Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has a message for Business Improvement Associations across the city; taxpayer money cannot be used to fight the location of a new Regional Acute Care Centre.
The group "Citizens for an Accountable Megahospital Planning Project" launched an appeal and are raising money to fight the location, $8,500 of which was pledged by BIA's, according to Dilkens.
Something the mayor says is against the Municipal Act and plans to have any funding for CAMPP removed from BIA budgets.
"The act clearly indicates what they can do with those funds. Funding and taking taxpayer levied dollars from their members to fund a third party appeal of a city decision is clearly outside of the scope of what a BIA can do," he says.
He tells AM800 News administration is confident in its stance and there are serious consequences that administration wants to avoid.
"I think we've had a very strong legal review of what their powers are and where they can spend their money and we feel very confident in the recommendation that's going to city council," he says. "It could mean the dissolution of the boards by city council, that is the ultimate option, or council could opt to reduce each participating BIA's budget."
Dilkens says a report will be brought to city's next council meeting for consideration.