Today's News-Gazette:
Nursing home Administrator Andrew Buffenbarger was directed to improve the home's financial picture by $300,000 by the August full county board meeting, through a combination of cuts and revenue increases.
He was also directed to consult with Washington University Professor Rachel Schwartz, who had examined the nursing home's public records and offered her services to the county for free.
The $592,000 loan was approved by a voice vote at Thursday night's committee meeting. Two Republican board members, Brad Jones of Champaign, the vice chair of the committee, and Chris Doenitz of Mahomet asked that their "no" votes be recorded.
The original plan was to lend the facility $460,000, but committee members decided to transfer a greater sum to avoid having to do the same thing in just a few months.
Even majority Democrats showed signs of bucking future loans to the nursing home.
"I have no confidence in the nursing home finances anymore," said Champaign Democrat Michael Richards. "I will not vote for this tonight unless we do something about the nursing home."
Discuss.
would someone do the math for me:
When you figure the tax going annually for the building, and the other special tax to cover the employee SS taxes, and then add in the amount of "loans", how much have the county taxpayers contributed to this operation in the last 12 months?
I attended the Champaign County Board Finance Committee meeting last evening so I might begin to better understand why this morase continues and continues. It was encouraging to hear several boad members publicly state concern that the board has not handled fiduciary responsibility and by not doing so has enabled the continuing financial black hole that exists. These comments came in response to detailed financial concerns expressed by the county treasurer, auditor, and administrator as to the present status of the county general fund. Two different accounting systems are used by the nursing home. There is no way that one can trace the income and expenditures, except maybe Dr. Schwartz who is a professor of accounting. This reminds me of several decades ago when Unit 4 used an accounting system as a shell game until the state of Illinois stepped in and told the district to straighten up and fly right or lose state funding.
During the long discussion connected with the $100,000 payment for the nursing staff and the $592,000 plus loan amount, it was mentioned that the county has already loaned the nursing home over 2 million dollars. With the proposed loan, this will closely total 3 M. None of this includes the amounts paid for attorneys, consultants, consultants for the consultants, consultant for the new nursing home board, new computer program, about $60,000--cost of which will be covered by saving due to use of the new program--, fines, loss of revenue because the home is not functioning to capacity, and probably many other items that none of us know about. It is so clear from listening to the conversation last night that no one person in the room completely understands and has knowledge about this situatiosn since the passage of the referendum.
The argument given by McGinty, chair of this committee, for the amount of the proposed loan is because the board does not want the nursing home administrator to come back before the board to ask for more money before the end of Dec 08. Al Nudo, chair of the nursing home board, slipped in the amendment that by August, Buffenbarger has to come before the board to show how $300,000, basically half the amount of the current proposed loan, can be shaved from the cost of running the nursing home. Now the $300,000 does not have to be saved by Aug. just proposed. So the committee has lost all leverage with Buffenbarger because they have proposed the full amount of the loan with the proviso, but no sunset clause or checks and balances in case this is not met. Further, the reason for this provision is so the county board then can put a referendum on the November ballot asking that the county residents approve more funding to support the nursing home, to bail out the poor fiduciary performance of the county board--not unlike Unit 4 School Board, which has made very poor fiduciary decisions over a long period of time and now wants a 1% sales tax increase. In addition, each month Buffenbarger is to come before the board to report progress. It is rather confusing as to why the committee is not willing to incrementally dole out the proposed loan to keep control over the nursing home; yet want Buffenbarger at every monthly meeting.
So now the county residents will be facing increases by the county for the nursing home, by the county as another Nov. referendum for 1% sales tax support for the school districts within the county, by the UCSD over 30% plus over 9 years, by the water company, by AmerenIP, and just waiting for the shoe to drop by the park districts--oops that has already happened in Urbana--, and MTD. Maybe, I forgot one or two.
Discussion time was spent, last night, about the cost of nursing care and contract nursing--a lot caused by "last minute no shows." absenteeism, very generous vacation time, and budget constraints. Never once did a single committee member ponder as to why people would rather not turn up for work rather than earn income. What is wrong with the work environment at this facility? In ten years of in depth involvement with nursing homes during the last 10 years of my mother's life, I observed with accuracy that there are two variables affectin how a nursing home is run and functions--who owns the home and the administrator and under the administrator the director of nursing. For some unexplanable reason, there is a reluctance on the part of the county board decision-makers to investigate these aspects. In fact when the directive was approved for Dr. Schwartz to examine certain aspects of the nursing home budget, it was stated that "this is just another way to get at Andrew." Why is it that people are not running to show that the nursing home is run with the cleanliness and precision of every nursing home best practice and is a model nursing home and that the whole problem is, indeed, the timing of the medicare and medicaid payments. But this is not the case. During my 10-year involvement with nursing homes, I did not hesitate to bring in the state health department, state ombudsman, and not pay a considerable part of the bill due to lack of profession services. The only way nursing home companies understand what is happening is to nick them economically.
There has been very little investigation as to the choices of attorneys and consultants who have been hired to work on these nursing home-related issues. Are all of these people truly independent or friend of someone connected with the situation. It is clear that the attorney(ies) were friend of friend and there is concern expressed about the auditor that has been hired. Al Nudo has arranged for an auditor to audit the auditor--another friend of a friend. This is much akin to the fox watching the hen house. What is the connection of all of the contract agencies hired by the nursing home to those who run the nursing home? Why a contract agency from Texas, exclusively, for rehab services?
After sitting for 2.5 hours, I certainly have more insight, but far from coming near a complete understanding of a situation that borders on malfeasance and fiduciary incompetance. Do not misread these expressed concerns as lack of support for the nursing home. It is because I am concerned about the nursing home that I think it is important that this be a PUBLIC debate with total transparency. I have recently learned that the state's attorney has sent a memo to the county board members advising that they not talk with anyone inside the nursing home due to labor negotiations. Until there is total open dialogue no one will understand this situation. It is time for the N-G to use FOIA to get to the bottom of the what has happened and is still happening.
Pattsi Petrie
"except Richards did vote for the loan...typical stellar N-G reporting.
The WDWS story this morning said Brad Jones and Chris Denitz voted "no."
You get poor masks for reading comprehension. The excerpt right in front of you says "Two Republican board members, Brad Jones of Champaign, the vice chair of the committee, and Chris Doenitz of Mahomet asked that their "no" votes be recorded." It doesn't say Richards voted no.
As for your spelling, it's Doenitz, not Denitz
ok, nobody came up with my numbers, here's what I found:
from the 2007 County Levy Ordinance
We could also add in the amount in property taxes that this nursing home is not paying if you want to compare how close this place operates to a private nursing home that actually breaks even.
With numbers like this, the county could give the nursing home away, start collecting some property tax, quit collecting the employee benefit tax, and continue paying on the bonds until paid off - and I am not sure it would be a bad idea.
Let me add this - from my review of the Levy - $2.4 million is the same amount as the county levied for highways and bridges in 2007.
If you're adding up referenda, add the City of champaign township onto that list.
"It is time for the N-G to use FOIA to get to the bottom of the what has happened and is still happening."
Pattsi, your interest in this issue (and the impending county school tax) is admirable. I agree with all your comments. But take note that Mark Shelden consistently for the past THREE YEARS has been filing FOIA requests to uncover the idiocy of the nursing home issue (construction and management), the courthouse bungle, the ineptitude of the County Board in general, the lax leadership by the administrators and committee chairs, etc etc etc. For 12 months, I campaigned on these very issues in my bid for CB7, only to be met with a general sense of "who cares?" by the voting public. John Farney campaigned similarly. We were ready to take on the CB and shed some light on this mess. We lost unfortunately to two people who have done nothing but say yes to every tax hike and expenditure that comes up for vote. And now two years later, the CNH is in even more trouble, deeper in debt, begging for County money which we don't have, and we're still getting absolutely no where.
I heard from someone today that the CB is considering an additional tax referendum in November to fund the CNH. That, on top of the County Board likely to green light the county school sales tax issue, plus the Township funding request and possibly an Urbana Park district referendum try again. So again, every answer from our elected officials is "give us more money." My question is this: when is enough, enough? And when will the voting public realize we need new people with common sense in our elected offices?
Concrete non political conversations about the nursing home are most productive. And the more we have that are factually correct, the better the chance to educate the public concerning what is happening. My intent was not to negate any previously expended energies to get full and detailed information, but to encourage this to continue full speed ahead. Unfortunately to get the public attention, it will take articles in the local media, demonstrations, people being willing to attend the various county board meetings, etc. It was intriguing that there were so few people at last night's meeting and only 4 public comments. This is an observational comment, not a criticism. People need to urge the policy committee to look at the nursing home administration, but the next meeting has been cancelled so I have been told. There is a lot of finger pointing, not my responsibility, and political bification, which has not served the situation at all over all of these years through many different boards. Until all of this is set aside, progress for the health, safety, and welfare of the nursing home will not happen.
Pattsi Petrie
I'm ready to start a taxpayers revolt group. Vote no to every tax increase that is sent to the voters until someone gets a clue.
Here's my message to the County Board.
I've voted "yes" for referendums in the past. This current board will never see another "yes" vote from me.
Thanks to Pattsi for that great report. I sure wish you'd won your primary last Spring.
The board has to investigate the management. I can't believe that is not the #1 topic at this point. If people don't want to work there, it's the management that's the problem. How one gets along with one's boss is typically reported as the #1 issue for job satisfaction---over salary, benefits, etc. That's because if your day is a drag because of a bad boss, it doesn't matter how much you make because you're still having a bad day every day. And that is irrespective of any financial mismangement, strategy, etc. going on by the administrator.
It's time to fire the management and start over if there's any hope. Until the people who ran this place into the ground are fired I will never vote yes for a tax increase.
As to the management . . . get ready for this . . . the current Administrator has a deal in place with the private manager the board is talking to, to stay on as the CCNH Administrator.
Its things like that which will doom any referendum to fail.
John Farney--your last statement has very serious connotations. What is the factual basis for this information?
Pattsi Petrie
I'm using information provided to me at various AFSCME meetings over the past several weeks by our staff representative who is really on top of this. We had one this morning with nursing home staff where it was brought up once again.
Additionally, as early as last July, MPA's Michal Scavatto (CEO of the private manager) stated that "the nursing home is heading in the right direction under Buffenbarger." (see the July 2007 minutes).
I also understand that the current administrator is a former employee of MPA.
Well, the Saturday News-Gazette helped to outline some of the issues that the state has with the day to day operation of the nursing home. Wow.
Anyone who has (or has had) a loved one in a nursing home knows that even on a good day, these are still a difficult place to deal with... both on an emotional and physical level. Back in the late 70's, I had two grandparents in County. They have long passed away, I haven't been back since.
Many of the issues mentioned are sloppy operations, lack of proper training for the staff, and lack of attention to essential needs. Unsecured fire doors, untested smoke alarms and generators. Who is Buffenbarger's man that is in charge of facilities, and what does the operations staff actually do? We can see what they DON'T do. It's a little late to deal with, when the power goes off and the backup generators don't kick on. Buffenbarger has a brand new facility to manage, and he's already failing to properly maintain it.
However, there's some real problems there. It would seem that it is time for Buffenbarger to update his resume. He's NOT getting the job done. Of course, he and Weibel are all clammed up, citing legal issues. How convenient.
I've said it several times before. I don't care what future referendums that this County Board puts on the ballot. The answer is NO. The democrats have done a great job of making an absolute mess of things.
By approving the referendum for the Nursing Home, we as voters put a lot of trust into the County Board. They betrayed that trust. There's a brand new building that was largely over budget and was filled with construction problems, the Administrator appears to be pretty much incapable of managing the facility, the state has been unhappy for months and months, the new facility is not being properly maintained, there's huge staffing (and staff training) issues.
Pretty sad situation. Get ready for the " boo hoo" emotional crowd to roll out the save grandma argument for even more property tax money. Park District,schools, all you people need to be a heck of a lot more responsible with taxpayer's money.....I'll vote no on any tax increase for any reason at all! Let the tea party begin.
It is unfortunate that one should have to file a FOIA request to a public agency particularly at the local level to get essential information relating to fiscal responsibility. It is We the People not Them the Masters. These are public enterprises therefore they belong to the people. Hiding of fiscal information should not only be illegal, these public agencies should be require to post their expenditures, check registers and contracts on the internet so that anyone can quickly see what is going on.