MONROE - Next month, voters will be asked whether Green County government can collect more in property taxes to bridge a funding gap at Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Next week, the Green County Board of Supervisors is asking citizens for their thoughts, opinions and questions about the Oct. 6 referendum vote.
The board's next meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Green County Courthouse, will include a public hearing on the referendum. Members of the public will have five minutes each to speak.
The board last month approved putting on the ballot a question asking voters to allow the county to exceed the tax levy limit by as much as $890,000 for each of the next five years to fully fund operations at Pleasant View Nursing Home. The vote was 23-3 in favor of having a referendum, with supervisors Craig Foreback, Sherri Fiduccia and Russ Torkelson opposing.
If the referendum is approved, the owner of a home valued at $150,000 could be taxed up to $50 more each of the next five years to fund the nursing home. The owner of a home valued at $300,000 could be taxed an additional $100 annually.
If the referendum does not pass, the county will need to come up with funding for Pleasant View by making cuts in other parts of the budget. No specifics about potential cuts have been determined.
It's estimated the nursing home will operate at a deficit of about $1.2 million this year. The county was to receive about $650,000 from the state, but some of that money instead was used to help cover the state government's Medicaid Trust Fund deficits.
Next week, the Green County Board of Supervisors is asking citizens for their thoughts, opinions and questions about the Oct. 6 referendum vote.
The board's next meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Green County Courthouse, will include a public hearing on the referendum. Members of the public will have five minutes each to speak.
The board last month approved putting on the ballot a question asking voters to allow the county to exceed the tax levy limit by as much as $890,000 for each of the next five years to fully fund operations at Pleasant View Nursing Home. The vote was 23-3 in favor of having a referendum, with supervisors Craig Foreback, Sherri Fiduccia and Russ Torkelson opposing.
If the referendum is approved, the owner of a home valued at $150,000 could be taxed up to $50 more each of the next five years to fund the nursing home. The owner of a home valued at $300,000 could be taxed an additional $100 annually.
If the referendum does not pass, the county will need to come up with funding for Pleasant View by making cuts in other parts of the budget. No specifics about potential cuts have been determined.
It's estimated the nursing home will operate at a deficit of about $1.2 million this year. The county was to receive about $650,000 from the state, but some of that money instead was used to help cover the state government's Medicaid Trust Fund deficits.