DARLINGTON - The Lafayette County Board will let voters decide the fate of the county's nursing home.
The board voted 16-0 Wednesday to put the question of a referendum to a vote Nov. 12.
"It's important that the vote was unanimous," Chairman Jack Sauer said. "It shows how important the Manor is to the county."
The referendum will ask voters to allow the county board to exceed the tax levy rate by $500,000 for the next three years to help pay for Lafayette Manor nursing home.
"I think the entire county should decide what happens to the Manor and not just a few people at this meeting," board member and Nursing Home Committee Chairman Jed Gant told the board.
A yes vote means the county's levy will increase from about $6.2 million for the year 2009 and payable in 2010 to about $6.7 million.
The money will help cover expenses for the nursing home, which is expected to operate at a deficit of about $158,000 this year.
In the past, the county was able to use general fund money to help pay for the nursing home. This year, the county saw an unexpected increase in its human services budget. Lafayette County Human Services expects to be about $795,000 over budget.
If money from the undesignated general reserves was used to make up the deficits for human services and the nursing home, it would almost wipe out the nearly $1.1 million fund.
Gant said voters should be reassured that the $500,000 will only be used for the nursing home and nothing else.
The referendum would increase the tax rate for the owner of a $150,000 home by $54.57 per year. It would increase the 2010 tax rate from $6.67 per thousand dollars to $7.03 per thousand dollars.
Sauer said the board had to act quickly because the annual budget needs to be completed by mid-November.
Board member and Finance Committee Chairman Dwayne Larson said the county has an obligation to its seniors.
"I think it says something about us if we keep the only facility in our county for our elderly," he said.
"I hear from people that we owe our seniors something, and I agree" Gant said.
Gant said that if the referendum fails, the county could sell or close the nursing home.
If the nursing home closes, the employees would be out of work.
"We've lost enough jobs in this county over the past few years," Gant said.
The board also authorized the transfer of up to $20,000 from the general fund budget to the county clerk's budget to pay for the referendum.
"The county is obligated to pay for any costs associated with the referendum," Clerk Linda Bawden told the board.
Gant said the board needs to educate the public about the referendum and explain why it was needed.
Lafayette County Corporation Counsel Steve Elmer told the board he would see what steps it can take to educate the public. He cautioned board members that if they meet as a group, it would constitute a meeting and they would have to post an agenda.
The board voted 16-0 Wednesday to put the question of a referendum to a vote Nov. 12.
"It's important that the vote was unanimous," Chairman Jack Sauer said. "It shows how important the Manor is to the county."
The referendum will ask voters to allow the county board to exceed the tax levy rate by $500,000 for the next three years to help pay for Lafayette Manor nursing home.
"I think the entire county should decide what happens to the Manor and not just a few people at this meeting," board member and Nursing Home Committee Chairman Jed Gant told the board.
A yes vote means the county's levy will increase from about $6.2 million for the year 2009 and payable in 2010 to about $6.7 million.
The money will help cover expenses for the nursing home, which is expected to operate at a deficit of about $158,000 this year.
In the past, the county was able to use general fund money to help pay for the nursing home. This year, the county saw an unexpected increase in its human services budget. Lafayette County Human Services expects to be about $795,000 over budget.
If money from the undesignated general reserves was used to make up the deficits for human services and the nursing home, it would almost wipe out the nearly $1.1 million fund.
Gant said voters should be reassured that the $500,000 will only be used for the nursing home and nothing else.
The referendum would increase the tax rate for the owner of a $150,000 home by $54.57 per year. It would increase the 2010 tax rate from $6.67 per thousand dollars to $7.03 per thousand dollars.
Sauer said the board had to act quickly because the annual budget needs to be completed by mid-November.
Board member and Finance Committee Chairman Dwayne Larson said the county has an obligation to its seniors.
"I think it says something about us if we keep the only facility in our county for our elderly," he said.
"I hear from people that we owe our seniors something, and I agree" Gant said.
Gant said that if the referendum fails, the county could sell or close the nursing home.
If the nursing home closes, the employees would be out of work.
"We've lost enough jobs in this county over the past few years," Gant said.
The board also authorized the transfer of up to $20,000 from the general fund budget to the county clerk's budget to pay for the referendum.
"The county is obligated to pay for any costs associated with the referendum," Clerk Linda Bawden told the board.
Gant said the board needs to educate the public about the referendum and explain why it was needed.
Lafayette County Corporation Counsel Steve Elmer told the board he would see what steps it can take to educate the public. He cautioned board members that if they meet as a group, it would constitute a meeting and they would have to post an agenda.