It is not surprising that the Green County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to put a referendum on the Oct. 6 ballot regarding funding for Pleasant View Nursing Home. The number of supervisors absent from Tuesday's meeting was greater than the number of "no" votes cast.
Voters will be asked to allow the county to exceed the tax levy limit by $890,000 for each of the next five years to bridge the gap in funding for the nursing home. The home ran at a deficit of about $900,000 last year. The gap is projected to be about $1.2 million this year. Rather than find those funds by making cuts elsewhere in the budget, the board has decided to first ask voters if they can shell out a little more in property taxes.
Before Tuesday's vote, the board learned nursing home personnel are working on ways to cut expenses and increase revenue. While those efforts aren't expected to right the home's budget ship as early as next year, there was talk among board members Tuesday that the county may not even need the extra revenue the full five years.
"If in three years we only have to have $300,000 for the nursing home, then that's all we would ask for," supervisor Harvey Mandel said.
Let's hope that's the case. Though most taxpayers are conditioned to expect governmental bodies will spend every dime they are allowed.
But back to the measures to cut expenses and increase revenue at the nursing home, for a moment? Why weren't those efforts undertaken earlier, before the county reached a point it's asking taxpayers for more money? It's a question board members need to answer before Oct. 6.
Supervisor Sherri Fiduccia on Tuesday unsuccessfully asked the board to hold off on the referendum for six months to develop a financial plan for the nursing home. Why isn't there already a financial plan for the home? Another question for board members to answer.
County officials must be very busy between now and Oct. 6, which is a mere six weeks away. They must make a clear case to county voters why the money is needed, and what the consequences will be if the referendum fails. There is no talk of the county abandoning Pleasant View Nursing Home, nor should there be.
But voters deserve a detailed breakdown of what county services and positions will be cut if they reject paying the extra taxes. That's the only way citizens can make an informed decision about their tax dollars.
The clock is ticking, and time is short.
Voters will be asked to allow the county to exceed the tax levy limit by $890,000 for each of the next five years to bridge the gap in funding for the nursing home. The home ran at a deficit of about $900,000 last year. The gap is projected to be about $1.2 million this year. Rather than find those funds by making cuts elsewhere in the budget, the board has decided to first ask voters if they can shell out a little more in property taxes.
Before Tuesday's vote, the board learned nursing home personnel are working on ways to cut expenses and increase revenue. While those efforts aren't expected to right the home's budget ship as early as next year, there was talk among board members Tuesday that the county may not even need the extra revenue the full five years.
"If in three years we only have to have $300,000 for the nursing home, then that's all we would ask for," supervisor Harvey Mandel said.
Let's hope that's the case. Though most taxpayers are conditioned to expect governmental bodies will spend every dime they are allowed.
But back to the measures to cut expenses and increase revenue at the nursing home, for a moment? Why weren't those efforts undertaken earlier, before the county reached a point it's asking taxpayers for more money? It's a question board members need to answer before Oct. 6.
Supervisor Sherri Fiduccia on Tuesday unsuccessfully asked the board to hold off on the referendum for six months to develop a financial plan for the nursing home. Why isn't there already a financial plan for the home? Another question for board members to answer.
County officials must be very busy between now and Oct. 6, which is a mere six weeks away. They must make a clear case to county voters why the money is needed, and what the consequences will be if the referendum fails. There is no talk of the county abandoning Pleasant View Nursing Home, nor should there be.
But voters deserve a detailed breakdown of what county services and positions will be cut if they reject paying the extra taxes. That's the only way citizens can make an informed decision about their tax dollars.
The clock is ticking, and time is short.
