FATE OF SHEBOYGAN NURSING FACILITIES GOES TO VOTERS

County to vote on health centers' future in advisory referendum
By Eric Litke Sheboygan Press staff

Taxpayers are divided and officials are waiting, as the future of the two county-run health-care centers could hinge on the outcome of an April advisory referendum.
Joe Filsinger, 84, of Sheboygan, said providing health care for seniors is a government responsibility and should be supported by taxpayers, himself included.
"You're going to have to take care of these people who need care," Filsinger said Wednesday. "If they don't take care of them, a lot of people will never be taken care of."
The April referendum is a preliminary step before supervisors ask voters in a future binding referendum to approve exceeding state levy restrictions to help fund Sunny Ridge Nursing Home and Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility.
The two centers are expected to operate at a deficit of $6.1 million this year, which will have to be covered with county property tax money.
Magi Wehner, 52, of Sheboygan, said if she had a ballot in front of her Wednesday, she would vote no, though a sincere effort by Sunny Ridge to cut costs could make her more willing to share the burden.
"I think there's got to be a balance somewhere," Wehner said. "Perhaps some tax levy could be raised, but not without a compromise from the staff to accept their share of the burden."
County Administrative Coordinator Adam Payne said it could be necessary to exceed the state levy restrictions by referendum to keep the centers open.
The county will spend $6.5 million on the two health-care centers next year even if Sunny Ridge is downsized to 150 residents, according to county Finance Director Tim Finch.
Finch said the increase is part of the reason the county needed $3 million in reserve funds to balance this year's budget and is expected to need another $2.5 million in 2007.
Before the County Board approved the advisory referendum, 23-9, on Tuesday, the question was amended four times, three times to perfect wording and once to split it into two questions, one on spending for the health-care centers and one asking if voters are willing to exceed the levy restrictions for general county operations.
County Board Chairman Bill Goehring said Wednesday that he expects the health care question to pass, but has his doubts about the success of a binding referendum.
"I anticipate, because there isn't a dollar figure attached to it, the first question will pass," Goehring said. "When you put an actual dollar figure next to it, I think it has more of an impact."
Goehring said the county will almost certainly pursue a binding referendum if the advisory referendum passes, but the timing depends on the success of the population reduction at Sunny Ridge, 3014 Erie Ave. The County Board voted last September to downsize Sunny Ridge, a measure expected to save up to $900,000 a year.
Sheboygan County is trying to reduce the number of people living at Sunny Ridge to 125 by attrition. As of Tuesday, Sunny Ridge had 206 residents, down two from last month.
Sunny Ridge is not accepting new patients, except for people who cannot qualify for or afford care at any other health-care facility in the county. Rocky Knoll, near Plymouth, is not affected by the freeze.
Reach Eric Litke at 453-5119 and elitke@sheboygan-press.com.






Voters will decide fate of county's health-care facilities FROM THE SHEBOYGAN PRESS

An April advisory referendum will give Sheboygan County taxpayers a chance to tell the County Board if they would support spending money to maintain the two county-run health-care centers.
The referendum is a preliminary step before supervisors ask voters in a future binding referendum — likely this fall — to approve exceeding the tax levy to fund Sunny Ridge Nursing Home and Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility. The two centers are expected to operate at a deficit of $6.1 million this year, which will have to be covered with county property tax money.
Sheboygan County is trying to reduce the number of people living at Sunny Ridge, 3014 Erie Ave., to 125 by attrition. Supervisor Michael Vandersteen reported Tuesday that Sunny Ridge's population is down by two this month, bringing the total to 206 residents. The population was reduced by 24 over the preceding two months.