Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 03/01) - The Stanton Regional Hospital has submitted a balanced budget to the Department of Health and Social Services for approval.

Director of operations Donna Zaozirny said managers were able to balance the $50-million budget because the department agreed to pay "forced growth" costs, such as power and fuel.

The government is also covering the costs of staff wage increases and the hospital is continuing with the privatization of housekeeping and laundry services.

"We've submitted a budget that we feel we can work within," said Zaozirny. "We're waiting on the department now."

Mark Cleveland, deputy minister of health and social services, said the budget's details will be released when it is approved. "We're doing the analysis now," he said. "We hope to be finished in the next couple of weeks."