Something very strange happened at yesterday's budget hearing. Northampton County Council actually listened to Ron Angle.He told them they are wasting time trying to save money on paper clips and should instead be looking at some long range plans that will save real money. "We're gonna' spend four nights worrying about paper clips and rubber bands and whatever we're going to worry about, and we need to be worried about the big picture." Noting problems everywhere, Angle claims "[g]overnment is failing. That's the reality of this. Government is in the beginning throes of failure."
Executive John Stoffa agreed with Angle's assessment that, as bad as things look next year, 2011 and 2012 will probably be worse. That got people's attention.
Angle suggested (1) selling Gracedale and using the money over a number of years to reduce the impactt of taxes; (2) getting rid of county parks by giving them to municipalities or outright auction; and (3) using the half mil ($3.6 million) set aside for open space to reduce the tax burden next year.
In past years, these suggestions have always been met with stony silence. But something strange happened.
Gracedale
Council member Michael Dowd started things off. "Mr. Angle's right. I think we need to look at some of these issues. I frankly plan to introduce in the new year a resolution to ask the administration to review Gracedale and the practicality of privatizing Gracedale. ... We need to look at who might be able to do it better than we can."
Council member John Cusick jumped aboard, too. "This list of capital improvements is not going to get any shorter, and it's not going to get any cheaper."
Council Prez McHale and Lamont McClure both expressed reservations. McHale repeated Wayne Grube's often-made assertion that Gracedale is the "jewel of the County" while McClure called Gracedale a "moral obligation."
Addressing Council, Stoffa told them we spent $11 million on Gracedale this year and will be spending another $7 million next year. He advised a study could be completed at a cost of about $20 thousand. "I monitor the waiting list every week and I can tell you there are fewer and fewer people on that list." In response to questions from McClure, Stoffa stated it has never been this low. As of last week, just one woman was on a waiting list.
But it still costs money. "If you took the total budget to number of patients, it's about $102 thousand per patient," Stoffa said.
"My recommendation would be that we look at downsizing the facility in an economical way rather than just ... I mean that's something we could do now."
Stoffa suggested closing a floor to patients and relocating some human services' offices there. That swayed McClure, who seemed to be concerned about being able to reconvert back to a nursing facility should the need arise.
Parks
Believe it or not, Council Prez McHale told Angle to prepare a resolution for consideration next year. She doubts any municipality will agree to take over a county park, but Angle insisted that the next step would be a sale.
Open Space
County Exec Stoffa indicated that he might relent from open space projects for one year if there was some assurance that Council was not killing his "pay as you go" plan. According to Director of Administration John Conklin, eliminating the open space tax project this year would save the county $3.6 million, which would cut the proposed tax increase in half.
Maybe I'm ignorant on this issue, but aren't parks open space? I mean, I think the average citizen would think so. So doesn't it make the most sense to keep them, and use the open space fund money to cut some of the expenses the county is facing? I do understand there is a difference between "farm land" open space and "recreational" open space, but I'm thinking the public interest would be best served this way.
ReplyDeleteRising Sun, parks are open space. They cost money to maintain. Angle is proposing offering them to the municipalities for $1. If turned down, he wants to sell them. I would go along with the first part of his suggestion, but not the latter.
ReplyDeleteGood think this isn't A-town, where everyone loves parks.
Angle is also suggesting using this year's open space money to stem the tax hike.
He also wants to stop construction this year at Weaversville (Wayne Grube) Park.
Within 5 years Stoffa's unenforcable, non-offical and illegal "dedicated" tax will be ignored and used to balance the budget. It was always a joke.
ReplyDeleteGracedale is needed for the elderly poor of the County. Don't believe some of these Republican arguments. Stoffa and Angle have always wanted to dump Gracedale since neither give a damn about any senior citizens but themselves.
It would be a very sad day in Northampton county. Stoffa could have hired a private firm to run it like they do in Lehigh county. When the longtime administrators left two years ago, the time was right. Of course he just promoted the same staff to make the same mistakes.
Lehigh Count takes care of their poor elderly and they don't waste the money of Northampton County.
Funny what a new Administration does. When private management was mentioned during the Reibman term, Angle led the Republican Council in screaming off with the Administrations head.
Oh well maybe this new Republican Council can beat the previous Republican Council's record and raise taxes by more than 66%.
Wayne's jewel has been a wasteful boondoggle for years. Wayne was a nice guy who hadn't a clue about what things cost. He's a good part of the reason we're in our current mess. We should remember him and his support of "nice" things as a cautionary tale about irresponsible planning and spending. Gracedale must go.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteYou have revealed a shocking statement here. It costs
$102,000 per patient per year for care at Gracedale. How much is comparable care at Country Meadows for example?
How much does it cost the county to maintain open space and county parks?
ReplyDeleteDoes open space need actual care? If so, what kind. If so, who does it and what is the cost and how many employees does it take?
What is a worry is if open space is auctioned, what prevents development? Who would buy open land and be forced to do nothing with it?
Two questions for Bernie:
ReplyDelete1) Isn't there a state mandate that every county has to have a county nursing home? I didn't know we could just get rid of it.
2) If we are able to get rid of the County Home, what other major areas can we do away with? What strikes me when you walk into the Courthouse are all the sherrifs and county clerks and lawyers and manpower and hustle and bustle often just for Jebediah Shoemaker who is suing Ezekiel Fufenstuck over a tree on a property line or some yuppie's ridiculous divorce. Why cant the costs of the sherrifs and the county clerks and teh judges pay and the maintenance of the courtrooms be charged to those who are using the courtrooms like Ezekiel and Jebediah and the yuppies? That would save a lot of money. The county would only have to pay for the criminal litigations.
I'm all for killing Open Space. I like the cities...let the country and the suburbs go to hell for once and fix up the cities. Once the country becomes like Macarthur Rd maybe more people will move back to the cities.
ReplyDeleteBernie-- Stoffa told them we spent $11 million on Gracedale this year and will be spending another $7 million next year.
ReplyDeleteOR restructure the whole thing like in the case of the Cedarbrook nursing homes. The budget of $60.4 million is paid for by residents, not taxpayers.
That's accomplished (in part) by the seperate "Cebarbrook Brookview Apartment" rentals (they charge $575-$725+ to live there)
Here's Lehigh County's Cedarbrook Budget (Page #14)
(Actually the Cedarbrook Budget is on Page #6, but in browser it is 14)
ReplyDelete"1) Isn't there a state mandate that every county has to have a county nursing home? I didn't know we could just get rid of it."
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is such a law bc the trend among counties is to get rid of these nursing homes. They are a tremendous financial drain and indigent people have plenty of nursing homes from which to choose. Northumberland County just privatized its nursing home.
"2) If we are able to get rid of the County Home, what other major areas can we do away with?"
Angle mentions the parks and stopping the funding of open space for a year. Another idea is more crosstraining, which will allow people from one department to work at another, reducing need for staff. Aother is trying to move asd many offices as possible into Gracedale, even if that means building, and selling the bechtel bldg and Governor Wolf buildings. The treaetment center in bethlehem, designed to reduce recidivis, should be pursued bc that affects the county's bottom line and reduces expenses at the 1871 jail.
People using the courts pay filing fees that presumably fund the people you mention.
Parks can be scaled back to nothing but benches & grass. Temps (kids) hired in the summer to mow. Ball fields themselves maintained by the teams.
ReplyDeleteGood to hang on to them for when there may come better times.
"Does open space need actual care? If so, what kind. If so, who does it and what is the cost and how many employees does it take?"
ReplyDeleteBuying it costs money. maintaining parks costs a lot of money. Building Weaversville, for example, will create the need for three more maintenance staff.
"How much is comparable care at Country Meadows for example?"
ReplyDeleteIt's probably cheaper when done privately.
LVCI, I may be mistaken, but I believe Cedarbrook is a big financial drain on Lehigh County, just like Gracedale. I'll look into it.
ReplyDeleteOpen Space initiatives are a joke. I'm with Angle on this one.
ReplyDelete"How much is comparable care at Country Meadows for example?"
ReplyDeleteIt's probably cheaper when done privately.
Well if you consider $3,6000 cheap!
Country Meadows Rates
Country Meadows $43,200/yr. v. Cedarbrook $102,000/yr. Not cheap, but cheaper. Are the nursing needs comparable?
ReplyDeleteBernie O'Hare said...LVCI, I may be mistaken, but I believe Cedarbrook is a big financial drain on Lehigh County, just like Gracedale. I'll look into it.
ReplyDeleteHere's Lehigh County's Cedarbrook Budget (Page #6)
That's much cheaper than $102k per patient per year.
ReplyDeleteThank God the city of Allentown and Lehigh County has the Trexler trust to protect some of our parks.
ReplyDeleteClosing libraries and selling parks...our country truly is devolving.
Cedarbrook Nursing Home: $87,600 a year $240 a day
ReplyDeleteSo Country Meadows is ($3,600 a month or $43,200
"Quality Of Care" is a factor + occupancy, when it comes to determining rates
Cedarbrook gets a 14 star rating 680 beds with 99% occupancy
Country Meadows gets a 9 star rating Only 70 beds with 86% occupancy
That's says something right there!
BTW: Gracedale gets 10 stars
Find Nursing Homes Ratings for Pennsylvania
Thirty years ago, the public agency I worked for recognized rapidly rising employment costs. These costs including salary and benefits made it prohibitive to cut grass, collect trash, provide pest control service and a number of other tasks. We could not compete with private sector. Started to farm out back them. Our costs were contained by judicious use of "contracting" and unions be damned.
ReplyDeleteVOR
"indigent people have plenty of nursing homes from which to choose"...
ReplyDeleteReally? Where are they Bernie? You're going to need a lot more of them too once Social Security gets a major overhaul, the boomers retire, and defined benefit pensions are gone. Oh wait...the stock market driven 401K's will save us!
They are all over the Lehigh Valley, in greater numbers than ever before. may of them are perfectly willing to accept whatever Medicaire is willing to pay.
ReplyDeleteNobody wants senior citizens denied a place to stay. Naturally, and decision about Gracedale would rewquire an examination of surrounding facilities to ensure that whatever Gracedale provides can be found elsewhere.
Assuming this is true, and that county residents are continuing to lose interest in staying there, it only makes sense to convert some floors for other uses.
After a few years of Obamacare, the "senior problem" will resolve itself. It's time for old people to do their patriotic duty and step aside.
ReplyDeleteThis post raised a few quick thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. if the county wants to privatize prisons, sell of the parks, and farm out our seniors, just what exactly do we need any county government for besides the courts?? Maybe we should get rid of the Executive, and Council, and just pay the judges. Though, we could probably privatize that, too, with Judge Judy, et al.
2. I voted against the Open Space referendum bond issue. However, the County sold it to the voters, politicians always campaign on saving open space, and it passed. Something seems grossly hypocritical for the County to sell the public on going deep into long-term debt to buy/preserve open space with one hand, while the other hand wants to sell it off. Theoretically, if municipalities don't take it on, private developers could buy up.
3. I have read critical comments about municipalities not supporting the indigent (homeless shelters) outside of their municipalities, but now read support for the County no longer caring for indigent seniors that are inside its borders, many of whom paid taxes for many years before living on a fixed income. Contradiction. If it is not run cost-effectively, then that's the problem to address, not selling it off.
Lighthouse you're a thinking person's Republican. Unfortunately, you just twisted Bernie into knots pointing out the illogic of his support for Angle's positions. The problem you have Lighthouse is that Bernie is more political operative than social commentator. If you view Bernies hypocricy through that lens, you don't need to ask the questions you did.
ReplyDeleteVery True.
ReplyDeleteOhare has yet to come to terms with the fact that he is mentioned in political meetings as someone to get close to.
Not out of respect or liking. he is openly discussed as a whackjob that is a necessary evil because of his blog.
Bernie has nothing to lose, so his blog can say whatever he wants it to. There are some who believe some of his rants and that can help or hurt some pol's out in the margins.
so best to stay on his good side. In a way it is unfair to Ohare, some of these pol's kiss his ass publicly and mock the Hell out of him privately. It is hust a political game some of these guys are good at.
Lighthouse,
ReplyDeletelet me respod to your concerns, one by one.
1) No one has suggesed privatizing the jail. That is illegal in Pa., by the way. I don't know where you got that notion.
The county is in serious financial trouble. It is facing tax increases for the next three years straight. Instead of trying to conserve paper clips and rubber bands, Amgle has proposed we re-evaluate just what we are doing.
Gracedale. - It is a great instirution and many people have emotional ties to it. But the simple reality is that the number of patients is dwindling and it is becoming a real cash drain on the county. Instead of just continuing to pay increasing bills mindlessly, it is time to take a careful look at whether t is really needed. If it is, the next question should be whether it can be scaled back.
If it is scaled back, as Stoffa has suggested, that will reduce the need for so much staff, resulting in instant savings. Morever, we can start movng people out of the Bechtel and Wolf buildings with an eye towards selling them and saving even more money, eliminating the need for tax hikes.
Two-thirds of your tax dollar pay for the courts and the prison. That and human services are the county's core function.
2. Although I voted against the referendum myself, I beleve in open space. We all love parks. But it is totally insane to be building a new park at Weaversville when we are in financial distress.
Angle has suggested selling them. No one will go along with that. But waht is wrong with working out some arrangement with municipalities to share the increasing cost of maintaining these parks. That costs a lot of money. Instead of trucking all kinds of equipment to different locations, a township might do the maintenance more efficiently.
There is no hypocrisy here. The open space referendum adopted never was binding on Council. If financial conditions change, as they have, it would be foolish to spend money on parks while imposing heft tax hikes.
3. Nobody has suggested that the cunty ignore or abandon its indigent seniors. There are many institutions that will care for indigent seniors, thanks to medicare. Nobody on council would ever want to throw some indigent senior on the street.
The point here is that Gracedale may have outlived its usefulness. It may no longer be needed. If tradition is the only reason for holding on to it, then prepare for some big tax hikes.
There is nothing illiogical in any of these suggestions, as someone snarked. The reality is that those goofy budget hearings will not result in any real savings. The only wat to do that is by looking at the big picture. Do we still need to have Gracedale? If so, does it have to be that large? Can we save money by sharing park maintenance costs w/ municipalities? Should we be building a park when we are facing a tax increase? Would we save money by moving offices at bechtel and Wolf to Gracedale? Will we save money and manpower when we stop using the 1871 portion of the jail?
These are what we need to consider. Thre is no desire on anyone's part to abandon a commitment to the young, old, mentally infirm or disabled. The question is how to deliver those services mst efficiently.
There are nursing homes that accept Medicare as full payment all over the county? Where? How many total beds are there in these places?
ReplyDeleteWe're not talking the private-pay assisted-living facilities. They serve a useful purpose, but they are not nursing homes. If your care needs become too intense, you're out. If their rates outstrip your income, you're out.
I admittedly know next to nothing about Gracedale and am not here to argue on its behalf. But I am here to say that finding appropriate care for a senior in declining health, and limited financial resources, is extraordinarily difficult. Saying that there are places everywhere is either ignorance of reality or is an attempt to advance an agenda.
You can have open space, libraries, and other quality of life expenditures. But you cannot have them if you continue to guarantee raises, extraordinary benefits and, most of all, pensions and retirement medical for public employees. You will need several years of salary freezes, and get the state legislature to roll back the pensions and eliminate the medical care, to get back to square and at least somewhat replenish the reserves without significant tax increases.
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic that we didn't directly vote for the capital expenditures, public employee comp and benefits, etc. But we did directly say we wanted to do Open Space, and so that becomes the target. Screw us, right? What do we know?
Anyway, The areas above are what need to be cut. Unfortunately, we have a better chance of seeing God.
Now, back to the regularly scheduled program.
I may be ignorant of reality and that's why I think it should be studied. Let's see if facilities are available. My agenda is to make sure that county services are delivered in the most efficient way possible to the public. If we can close some floors on Gracedale, we should. If we can close Gracedale entirely with no one suffering, we should.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Stoffa will discuss Gracedalwe with some people who actually understand what it does and what alternatives to private Nursing Homes provide.
ReplyDeleteHe is incorrect in stating that savings are automatic when you close a wing or a floor. You have staff shortages now at Gracedale and closing beds means less revenue but still a need to keep a number of staff to maintain licensure.
The problem with the county representatives is there is no one there who really understands the nuts and bolts and how inter-related all of this stuff is.
I remember some years back a company was brought in to study Gracedale and they made recomendations that saved money. When Stoffa came in he caved to insider pressure at Gracedale and stopped implementing the changes that were recommended. Now he wants to study the problem.
He needs to put his ego on the shelf and not be controlled by a certain people.
Stoffa is the least egotistical exec I've ever seen and follows his own counsel. He'll listen to anyone, but in the end, his guiding principle is always "what is the right thing to do?" That's all he thinks about. Maybe you should put your own ego on the shelf and start working with him instead of against him.
ReplyDeleteClosing some floors will mean that staff can be eliminated via attrition. The revenue is already gone bc the beds are empty, so your point there makes no sense. If state law requires certain staffing levels, that will have to be met, I agree.
Stoffa wants to study the situation, not just try things out without thinking them through. He wants to hire a consltant.
As far as an outside service being brought in to save money, that did happen. It did save money. Stoffa brought the outfit in, and changes were made. But now Gracedale is a money pit again and Stoffa himself mentioned that followed the independent contractor's departure. Maybe the answer is that.
It has to be addressed. It is beeding money. It is irresponsible to ignore it.
What about the people who work at Gracedale? Does anyone care about them. We have families and we care about the people we care for. Most of the residents who come to Gracedale aren't well off..they worked their whole lives and have no where to go but the County Home. What about all the Administrative Positions with high salaries they created at Gracedale...lets talk about them. What about the High Salaries of the Administration at the Courthouse, Prison ect...What about the Millions of Dollars spent on Overtime Pay at Gracedale and the Prison....sure didn't go to the little worker at Gracedale...they cut our overtime and some aren't allowed overtime. There are ways to cut cost...they just don't want to cut the "FAT CATS"
ReplyDeleteGracedale has a much better handle on OT than the jail. You should be proud of what you do, which is a profession in the truest sense of the word.
ReplyDeleteBut as you probably know Gracedale is bleeding money. It has fewer and fewer guests. It might be possible to close off a floor and move some offices in there. If that happens, that lessons your burden and will enable a staff reduction via attrition.
Nobody is sold on exactly what should happen there. Everyone is sold on the idea that changes are necessary bc the county is just pouring money it does not have into the place.
Do you think it would be possible to close one floor? What specific suggestions would you make for saving money there? Feel free to post them here.
Actually, the firm that helped save money was hired before Stoffa was elected. The Adninistrators at Gracedale were hopping mad because thet didn't like to be told to try new things.
ReplyDeleteWhen Stoffa was elected the firm and its recommendatuons were thrown out.
You are wrong, as usual. You just pull this shit out of your ass.
ReplyDeleteThis dripping hatred for Stoffa is getting old in a hurry. He won in 2005. He was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2009. The people rid Council of Stoffa's chief antagonist.
It's over.
I'm getting tired of these constant attacks by a mean-spitited person who is acting out of a hatred for Stoffa instead odf a desire to do what is right for the county. You can hate him until the day you do but he is the county executive and you better get used to it. Come January, he will have a Council that is willing to work w/ him instead of the gridlock he had before.
He will make mistakes. He will not be perfect. But instead of doing what is politically popular, he will be interested in doing what is right for the county. Now if you have some suggestions to make, do so. But if you are going to do nothing more than make petty swipes at a good man and the choice of the people, you will be deleted.
What is it with the population game at Gracedale. Stoffa says the wait list has been declining and currently there is only one person one it. GOOD! Since when is it a bad thing that we are finally serving all needy, elderly folks who need care. Talk to me about cutting floors and staff at Gracedale when there is a consistent number of EMPTY beds.
ReplyDeleteBut there is. Enough to close floor right now. It's been this way several years. So I'm talking to you.
ReplyDeleteHow about using a recent photo of Ron Angle. He's older and more obese now I think.
ReplyDeleteKill the parks and kill our property values. Sell the parks to developers, which will increase the tax burden, and burden on our schools, and lead to a huge tax increase down the road.
ReplyDeleteAll to save a $50/yr average tax increase now?
I am sure with the new council it will be bye bye parks and hello concrete jungle.
Why don't we invite Sarah Palin to come speak. She is hand-picking whacko towns and I think she missed us.
I see. I'm supposed to use a less flattering picture.
ReplyDeleteBernie, yes. Like the unflattering the pictures you use of everyone else...
ReplyDeleteRon can't help it that he's pretty and everyone else is ugly. It's a curse. I understand your jealousy.
ReplyDeletehaha
ReplyDeleteI think if the county matched the lousy healthcare, lack of pensions, and lousy salaries, no OT that we in the private sector have, there wouldn't be such a budget shortfall. We all fall together during the waning days of the American Empire...not fair that the private sector falls faster than the government sector.
ReplyDeleteNow we're really screwed. Because of global warming there are no more icebergs to put the old people on when we close Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's because the private sector has much further to fall when it comes to salaries.
ReplyDeleteYou can have open space, libraries, and other quality of life expenditures. But you cannot have them if you continue to guarantee raises, extraordinary benefits and, most of all, pensions and retirement medical for public employees. You will need several years of salary freezes, and get the state legislature to roll back the pensions and eliminate the medical care, to get back to square and at least somewhat replenish the reserves without significant tax increases.
ReplyDeleteWhy would I possibly work in the public sector if you cut the only things that attract us in the first place? All of us could easily work in the private sector but we choose our compensation packages individually as I'm sure you do too.
I see. So the open space we homeowners have paid for with our taxes are nothing more than a slush fund for the council to dip into? And Angle wants to sell OUR open space at a time of historically low property values. More waste.
ReplyDeleteHow about giving us our open space money back when you sell it then and ditching the .5% tax for it then? What a rip off to call it open space tax.
Following is a list of Northampton County Parks and their location:
*
Louise W. Moore Park
Country Club Road
Lower Nazareth & Bethlehem Townships
A 100 acre community park with picnic pavilions, hiking trails, playground, tennis courts, softball field, and community gardens.
* Wy-Hit-Tuk Park
Rt. 611 (Delaware River Scenic Drive)
Williams Township
A 23 acre community park located along the Delaware Canal with picnic pavilion, playground, organized group camping (by permit only), and hiking trails.
*
Minsi Lake Wilderness Area
Johnsonville Road
Upper Mt. Bethel Township
A 300 acre park reserve with hiking trails, wilderness and wetlands, and
a 120 acre lake popular for fishing and canoeing.
*
Bear Swamp Park & Archery Complex
Minsi Lake Drive
Upper Mt. Bethel Township
A 180 acre park reserve with hiking trails, wilderness and wetlands, archery complex and organized group camping (by permit only.)
* Fry’s Run Park
Rt. 611 (Delaware River Scenic Drive)
Williams Township
Small picnic area and rest stop.
* Frost Hollow Overlook
Rt. 611 (Delaware River Scenic Drive)
Forks Township
Small picnic area and rest stop with scenic view of the Delaware River.
* Nor-Bath Trail
Abandoned Northampton-Bath Railroad
East Allen Township
A five mile rails-to-trails walking and bicycle path.
* Weaversville Park (Proposed)
East Allen Township
A 200 acre property acquired by the County in 1996, to be developed into a community park.
* Gall Farm Park (Proposed)
Plainfield Township
A 160 acre property acquired by the County in 2003, to be developed into a community park.
* Totts Gap Properties (Proposed)
Upper Mt. Bethel Township
Parcels comprising 430 acres acquired by the County in 2004 and 2005 from the former Totts Gap Medical Research Laboratory for preservation of open space and a greenway connecting Lake Minsi / Bear Swamp County Parks with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
But there is. Enough to close floor right now. It's been this way several years. So I'm talking to you.
ReplyDeleteIf there are empty beds, why is there someone on the waiting list? Why aren't they in one of the open beds? Doesn't make sense.
Sure it does. A person applying for admission to a nursing home must first be checked out for a number of things. But there is no lack of space. gracedale could close one floor right now.
ReplyDeleteUSA, And they are all beautiful parks. I'd hate to see any sold. But let's not spend money for a new one when we are in financial distress. And why not coax municipalities or volunteers like you to provide maintenace, thuse reducing our costs?
ReplyDeleteThis is like Rendell wiping out the special recycling fund that was passed, for recycling, to pay for ongoing uncontrolled expenses. Or like Bush dipping into Social Security to pay for bombs or subsidies to the oil industry. Both those funds were basically bankrupted.
ReplyDeleteAs a taxpayer, when I agree to pay an increase or asessment for some noble cause that is supposed to benefit future generations, like open space, it's not for Pols to dip their hands into as they see fit for less than moral reasons at times.
They should have to pay as you go with everything.
Cut the open space tax, then raise the base tax. You don't just get to dip OUR fund when you've been wasteful with YOUR budget.
Keep it transparent.
Kill the parks and kill our property values. Sell the parks to developers, which will increase the tax burden, and burden on our schools, and lead to a huge tax increase down the road.
ReplyDeleteHuh? Developing an empty plot into a tax-generating entity would increase the school and property taxes? How does that work? Seems the new occupant of said empty land would be paying taxes.
Sure it does. A person applying for admission to a nursing home must first be checked out for a number of things. But there is no lack of space. gracedale could close one floor right now.
ReplyDeleteSo you are saying the administration is becoming more efficient in processing applications and the waiting lists are not a product of lack of space. Wouldn't cutting administration create waiting lists again?
No one has proposed cutting the administration. What has been proposed is (1) considering the possibility of selling gracedale; (2) closing off a floor that is not being used and moving administrative offices there; and (3) considering a stodyof long-range options with respect to the facility.
ReplyDeleteThe goal is to maximize county services in the most efficient way possible.
I propose renaming the Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority waste plant on Rt. 611, the
ReplyDelete"Charles! Dertinger Sewage Treatment Center."
I suggest a toilet paper cutting ceremony in lieu of the usual ribbon.
Thank you.
Actually the empty beds are scattered throughout the Facility. More informed people than Angle, Stoffa and Ohare have tried to make that point to County Council for years.
ReplyDeleteDifferent areas have different levels of care. If it was all one level of care you may be able to consolidate and close floors but even then it must be in consultation with the family and/ or resident.
This is LAW, meant to stop a practice (started by private homes until caught by the government) where people were moved to a very poor section of the Nursing Home once their private funds ran out and they were on Merdicaid.
Please try and ask people who understand these issues. I was at a couple Counci meetings some years back and whoever the Departments Director was gave a very good explanation , probably one of the best I have heard from a non Nursing Home employee.
lets lower the taxes so the government cannot provide any basic services--that is Angle's angle on this whole thing
ReplyDeletejust cut his taxes and that will solve all the social ills of the county
let's get real here folks
Bernie you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting this drivel
No, floors were closed down completely so the windows could be properly sealed, so what you are saying is not exactly right. If consolidation can occur for that reason, it can also occur to save the county money.
ReplyDeleteThere is no desire on anyone's part to dilute the quality of care. There is a great desire to make sure it is delivered in the most efficient manner.
I suspect this opposition may be motivated more by a desire for individual job security than a desire to provide quality care.
Anon 6:46, I don't consider any attempt to reduce the growing tax burden as drivel. it might be viewed that way by some who feel threatened in the public sector, but there are many people who simply will not be able to pay the tax increases heading their way.
ReplyDeleteThe notion of selling Gracedale, or at least reducing its size, should be considered. Selling the Bechtel and/or Wolf Building, and sending county workers to Gracedale, needs to be explored. Trying to get municipalities to help in sharing the maintenance costs of parks is another good idea, especially if their equipment is closer.
It could very well be there are legitimate reasons why none of this can occur. But it should all be explored.
Face it, Ohare if John Stoffa or Ron Angle said lets study reusing toilet tissue, you would praise it something we should at least consider.
ReplyDeleteActually, I favor studying anything that will help reduce the tax burden at a time when taxpayers could certainly use the help. Something wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mr Stoffa and County Council should talk to some of us lower class employees who are not in the Administrative section of Gracedale and ask our opinions about cutting costs. One thing that happened recently was they cut overtime. I think there should be a cap on the amount of overtime an employee can earn. Seems unimaginable to me that someone could earn more money in overtime pay than their base salary (This was in the newspaper) and this isn't the first time this has happened at Gracedale and it makes me ill especially when the total base salary plus overtime for that person is about five times my yearly salary. From what I understand for years the county home made money, what are the exact reasons for it being a liability now? I know there have been many new positions added in the Administrative section at Gracedale with Moderate starting salaries in the past few years. As far as employees being concerned about this situation we are because many of us have been there for years...not because of the wages but because of the Health Insurance. We also care about Gracedale and the services we provide. I hope that before a hasty decision is made all other options are utilized because the closing or privatizing of Gracedale will trickle down and effect many working families and families with relatives who require the care we provide. Some of us employees have ideas but honestly there is no one to listen.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear that. As a rank and file emplyee, you have an insider's knowledge that no consultant can match. I'd recommend the following:
ReplyDelete1) Call Stoffa's office and make an appointment to see him. he will be happy to hear what you say.
2) Go to a county council meeting and make your suggestions there.
3) Post them here. So long as there are no personal attacks, your concerns will have a lot of weight.
When Stoffa mentioned closing a floor as a possibility, he was really brainstorming. Nothing is definite. But he made one thing clear. He said he would reduce staff "by attriton." At no time did he suggest laying anyone off.
The bottom line here is providing the same quality service you already provide, but trying to ease the burden on the taxpayer. Maybe we can do that with a smaller gracedale. Maybe we can do it with no gracedale. Maybe we should leave things as they are. But considering the tax increases being faced in the next three years, it is important to economize as much as possible. That's where your ideas can really help.
The big point is these concerns have been made to the current Director and nothing is done. should people be forced to go to County Council because their Director ignores them?
ReplyDeleteSince Mr. Russell left no one seems to care. I think the management out at gracedale cares but the Courthouse bosses don't even want to look at you much less talk to you.
"should people be forced to go to County Council because their Director ignores them?"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. And tell them that, too.
I don't think anon 12:52 deserved a sarcastic answer Bernie. That was wrong man!
ReplyDelete"Huh? Developing an empty plot into a tax-generating entity would increase the school and property taxes? How does that work? Seems the new occupant of said empty land would be paying taxes."
ReplyDeleteHuh?...increased development leads to increased infrastructure costs for roads, schools, waste, that we all have to pay for. Developers do not pay for the cost their units put on the system. It gets spread out among everyone.
Want to save $50 on annual county taxes by building cluster houses on our parks? Watch the school tax bill go up a lot more than $50 from all the new kids that lead to the need for new/bigger schools.
Then there are more/wider roads, traffic isseus, sewer, etc