Gracedale was one of the topics discussed at last night's NorCo budget hearing. The good news is that county spending for the home has been downgraded from a projected $12 million to $9.9 million next year. Budget Administrator Brandon Dunstane told County Council that he was able to shave $2.1 million by using a more realistic census figure of 445 residents instead of the projected 475.
A $2.1 million reduction in the budget would translate to about 0.2 mills in real estate taxes.
Unfortunately, most of the rest of the meeting was marked by an inability to answer some pretty basic questions.
The bulk of the $9.9 million contribution to Gracedale is $7 million for the annual IGT transfer.
The IGT is basically an accounting gimmick under which county-owned hospitals and nursing homes pool together money and send it off to the state Medicaid agency for matching federal funds. They usually receive more money in return. Council member Dave Holland warned at the end of the meeting that changes in the IGT are on the way.
The IGT payment that the county must make to kick things off is based on the number of licensed beds, which is 688. But the money htat trickles back is based on the actual census, which is only 445.
Zrinski acknowledged that the county wants to sell 88 bed licenses, but it will take time.
During the hearing, Council member Dave Holland noted that Gracedale would be entitled to Medicaid bedhold money if it was at 90% of its max 688-census. Budget Administrator Dunstane acknowledged that the last time Gracedale was at 90% was pre-COVID.
Noting the large number of problems at Gracedale has received since Michelle Morton became Administrator (deficiencies, one-star rating, provisional license, threatened removal of Medicaid reimbursement), Council member Jason Boulette said he is "blown away" by a budget proposal that includes payraises for the home's top administrators and nurses. There was no response.
Boultette wanted to know how many "back office" workers are employed at Gracedale. He noted that in 2016, Gracedale was at near maximum capacity with 670 residents. Now that census has dipped to 445, he asked whether there has been a commensurate drop in the number of back office workers. No one was able to answer immediately.
In response to a question from Council member Kelly Keegan, Continuum of Care Director Tom Carson said that Gracedale has 339 employees and 401 vacant positions that are budgeted. Budget Administrator quickly clarified Carson to explain that only 40 of those 401 vacant positions have actually been budgeted.
Keegan also wanted to know how many holidays have been added by Executive Tara Zrinski for career service employees. Zrinski answered, "I think we added five." When Keegan asked how much these holidays have cost the county, Zrinski 's response was, "What do you mean?" Keegan explained that the county would still have to pay these employees and might need to add in holiday pay for some.
Zrinski argued that the holidays are a trade off for subsistence pay. She said she is trying to change a "culture" (translation appears to be bad morale) that has been established "over the last eight years,"i.e. under former Exec Lamont McClure. She told Keegan that this "culture" has already shifted among deputy sheriffs and is improving at Gracedale as well.
Administrator Mark Aurand was unable to answer a simple question posed by Council President Ken Krqaft, asking approximately how many of these employees are career service, i.e. nonunion. He said it should be fairly easy to determine how much money the county spends in salaries for employees with five new holidays. Aurand said he'd like these questions ahead of the meeting. "I'm hearing all these great things about making people feel fuzzy and warm, but what is the cost? demanded Kraft.
During the hearing, Carson acknowledged that agency nursing at Gracedale is still very high, at about 65%. This is much more than Morton had stated at the oversight committee meeting a few weeks ago.
Most amazing of all, the county administration is still unable to answer a question posed first at the oversight committee and again last night by Council member Lori Vargo Heffner. "Based on the census to date, and the employees that you have, where would we have a break even?"
"We've been trying to find that answer, I've been asking, " responded Carson.
Mr. Carson seems to be a very nice guy, but how is he qualified to run this nursing home. I do understand he is new but I can’t really say from what I seen if any areas that he excels in. Good job Mr boulete asking tough questions, once again the front line workers are the ones who need the help not top admin pay raises. Creating and passing the continuum of care appears to be a bad move looking back. Creating two 100k+ jobs when you can’t even get county workers is a slap in the face the the nurses and staff who work there. Jason and even Keegan, Lori and Kraft are taking this budget serious the rest don’t say much. Where is Jeff Warren? Ever since we got closer to the election he has all but stopped talking all together.
ReplyDelete"Good job Mr boulete asking tough questions, once again the front line workers are the ones who need the help not top admin pay raises. "
DeleteThank you. I agree.
Silly meeting. The majority party will pass her budget with little serious trimming of her math-challenged budget. In three years, remember the heartless, lazy scoundrels who did this to you while running Gracedale and the county into the ditch.
ReplyDeleteTZ said culture is improving at Gracedale? That is a lie! She goes into longevity luncheon where some Longtime Gracedale employees were being honored (many were excluded- just adding to the frustration by many). Was cursing about how a council member is leaking mis information to Lehigh Valley Ramblings. Another chance to embarrass herself by showing she always puts herself and ego first. And also showing that she took a job not realizing how bad Gracedale actually is. She actually has no idea what else is really going on there, because of all the lying and covering up. Time is running out and absolutely nothing is being accomplished at Gracedale. 90 percent agency nursing staff is just running the show. They're all laughing all the way to the bank. They're saying that the place will never be closed, because all those poor people will have no where to go. They say nothing will changed and they will get their way, and if anything Gracedale employees all gonna have to leave before them. Just a very sad state of affairs. Never thought Gracedale would be in such a dire state. Get Holland or someone competent in there to get basic questions answered. Time is running out!
ReplyDeleteShe's the most incompetent Executive we've ever had. She couldn't care less about Gracedale, its all about politics with her!
DeleteThe fact that they dont know the answer to break even number, means there is no break even number. Gracedale is a money pit, sell it.
ReplyDeleteAsk Sue W. She was there 10 yrs. She should know all those answers. That’s if she was doing her job. Time to replace her.
ReplyDeleteWe all wait for our new caring director but she is still here driving wedges.
DeleteGet rid of Susan W and Nicole D! Those two know and have known what was going on for years! They fabricate information and lie directly to the faces of Council. Get someone on the inside and you will see. Shameless and embarrassing
DeleteExactly and theyre never called out on it!
DeleteAll the back end career service staff are not needed for a census cut in half. Lay off. Use that money to pay for qualified leadership positions.
ReplyDeleteHow many holidays do they get now, 17? Take them back. Not being at work to do your job costs more money. I think 12 holidays plus sick time is more than fair.
ReplyDeleteHey Taxin Tara, how about the morale of us property tax payers? Council must reduce this line item from 9.9 down to 3 million. Gracedale should scrap the 4 patient rooms and sell 100 of the bed licenses.
ReplyDelete5 NEW HOLIDAYS!!!!! WHY??? What are they????
ReplyDeleteThey have 19 paid holidays ? They start with 10 days of vacation, 12 sick days and 6 personal days. I don’t want my taxes going up to pay for this.
ReplyDeleteHow much will these extra holidays cost to pay the OT to catch up??? 19 holidays is unheard of. We don’t even want them.
Delete47 days off. Can you justify that? They can work 4 8 hrs days per week. Who signed off on this? They should be fired. Did anyone do the math?
DeleteSick and vacation time is accrued. 1 sick day per month and 6.some odd hours vacation/month to start. So no, it’s not actually 47 days off or 4 8hr days/week… DUH
DeleteYou use & are paid for your accrued days off. And are paid for unused vacation and 1/2 of unused sick days on retirement. So they are paid time off. DUH
DeleteImagine being hung up on someone else’s time off that they EARNED.
DeleteThe time off is not earned, it’s accrued. That means you get it for going to work. Earning it is busting your ass and doing the work of 1 1/2 people. Cut the non-direct care staff in 1/2. The staff found sleeping are not earning shit.
DeleteThe pond is leaking and the administration fish are floundering.
ReplyDeleteTotally unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteFire Aurand ! Charles always had the troops prepared and ready to go. In fact, bring Charles back. That will improve morale.
ReplyDeleteTime to sell the government will never do a good job give to private enterprise.
ReplyDeleteand still no answers for handling the DOH concerns. What are these people even doing on these committees and administrative advisory positions?
ReplyDeleteWho are the people behind the curtain in this mess. I am sure there is so much fat in this budget. Tara cut $2.1 million and admitted her team missed. What else are they inflating?
ReplyDeleteI’m really starting to like Mr Boullette. Proof that local government should be much more about good government, not the letter after your name.
ReplyDeleteThe guy whose wife got a job the county? He talks a good game but let's see what amendments he put forward to reduce the tax increase.
DeleteIt seems to me he’s self promoting to set himself up for a higher office run. I’d like to see council members focus on doing the job of county council instead of promoting themselves as the most liberal or conservative by pushing causes that council has no power to effect while representing the county. Warren does the same thing and he is running for higher office, JB will be next.
Delete"I’d like to see council members focus on doing the job of county council instead of promoting themselves as the most liberal or conservative by pushing causes that council has no power to effect while representing the county."
DeleteI'm not going to try to promote myself as the most liberal or conservative anything, because I'd lose that contest. I see myself as a pragmatist that's focused on results. When I ran last year, there were leftist groups that declined to endorse me because I wouldn't accept their stance on issues, and I'm okay with that.
Everything I've put forth on Council has directly related to county governance. When I'm sitting on the Council dais or sharing stuff publicly on my social media, I refrain from commenting on state or national political issues. My focus is on the county, period.
"I’m really starting to like Mr Boullette. Proof that local government should be much more about good government, not the letter after your name."
DeleteThanks. I agree with you that our focus must be on good governance, not party. I've asked a lot of questions at the first two budget hearings and I plan to ask even more at the next one. Then I'll be submitting many budget amendments to try to ensure we get a better budget that meets our county obligations without overburdening our residents.
Never have so many known so little.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s stunning that Zrinski handed out FIVE more paid holidays and has no clue at what that would cost!!! She’s Santa Claus with our tax money!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess!
ReplyDeleteThe quickest way to destroy "culture" in the workplace is to give career service extra holidays and nothing for the 24/7 schleps who actually have to work them. Subsistence does not matter, maybe you will get a nice not-a-holiday mandate to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteExcellent observation. It is never a good idea to give one group of employees a benefit that is unavailable to others. This could have been done across the board with all employees by memorandums of understanding with the unions, and the cost would be far more than $1.5 million.
DeleteDestroy culture? You mean how the unions are guaranteed 4.5% pay raises and no changes to their medical for 2027 & 2028 but career services gets what the administration gives them, which is usually 3% and an increase in medical contributions? You mean that?
DeleteThis is such BS. If anyone gets “nothing” it’s career service. I can’t talk for all union employees/contracts, but I know of some who get an increase literally just for clocking in and being there! In addition to change of shift, double time & 1/2 for working those said holidays, AND a quarterly “perfect attendance” bonus for those who qualify. Meanwhile, career service is doing just about the same and get nada. Employees can’t control whether they are union or nonunion when they apply for a position. So let’s not talk about being unfair because if career service isn’t entitled to all of the above, the least they deserve is a few more holidays.
DeletePS. Don’t forget the TZ cupcakes!
DeleteCS employees are always overlooked if you are not in a higher admin position. we get what Admin give us, which is taken away immediately with the medical increase. So, CS gets a few more Holidays. Why can't CS employees get something just for themselves. Unions get raises 4.5 and medical staying the same. and the one thing that CS gets, its boo hoo for everyone else. If a CS is working or off on a Holiday they are getting the same rate of pay. You give those holidays to unions, and they get extra pay for all hours worked on that holiday, which can be anywhere from 12 to 16 hours of holiday pay. How is that fair? You give those Holidays to everyone; CS is not going to be the reason the money has tripled, it will be because of the unions. CS gets 1-2 days extra for not calling out they WHOLE year. Certain unions get monetary values, every 3months or 6 months. You have other unions get clothing allowance for what, when they are given the uninforms at no cost to them. So, if you're looking to be fair, there is no fairness.
DeleteBernie, career services are not treated fairly. Im not a staff at GD but i can tell you that career service dont get the raises that union do and the insurance is more. For instance in DHS career service pays the highest contribution for insurance than any other department. Union or not. In most years CS gets 1/2 the increase amount as union. Sadly this issue is not recognized and there has been minimal effort to improve the situation.
DeleteTruly painful to watch clueless people try to present as though they have a clue (Carson clearly has none). Whose fault is that? His or those who hired him? Licenses should have been sold years ago. Eighty eight is not enough but maybe there’s a reason for that number (probably because it is a long, tedious process supposedly). Pretty clear that the IGT situation is serious! Never thought I’d see this but now “hoping” , “acts of God”, “going to try” and “we’re working on it” are the new buzz words to save Gracedale. Did I hear Tara take a swipe at Morton’s skill level? Wow. Guess that friendship is done (as is her’s with McClure). I wonder if Mr. Holland knew how bad things actually are when he ran for the commissioner’s seat. Still another G tag to be posted. Perhaps it would be best to sell it while it still has a license. I can’t imagine that even a management company can help if it has to work with the mindset of the present county administration.
ReplyDeleteTaxing Tara is the darling of Northampton County Democrats, although she is highly unqualified. She never wanted to be County Executive and she is using this position as a springboard to her next election. Tara sounded incompetent when I heard her campaigning, and I let my concerns be heard to fellow democrats.
ReplyDeleteTaxing Tara first suggested a 44% tax increase. Now, she's down to about a 30% increase, to appease her constituents with the first round of sticker shock. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE. True Democrats will remember this Tara when you run for another office that you're also unqualified for.
Tara Zrinski's protege is another unqualified incumbent in Lower Saucon Township, Council President Victoria Opthof‑Cordaro. She recently proposed a 30% tax increase for Township residents, this is after the current interim Township Manager spent lavishly increasing employee salaries by changing job titles and a few responsibilities, though they were under a current negotiating Union contract. This Lower Saucon Council simply allowed it with little to no oversight.
Tara and Victoria and two peas in a pod. They even campained together, knocking on doors and handing out fliers.
They are now often seen together for photo ops and what-nots. They know little about governing, budgeting or leadership. Moreover, they treat taxpayer money for their pet projects. For Tara, it's Gracedale. For Victoria and her friends on Council, it's to close the landfill at all costs. Their problem solving solutions are the same: Give the bill to the Taxpayer.
Financial acumen, accountability and Integrity does not appear to be among their attributes.
Just listen to her speak, and you know that Zrinski is the most unqualified person we've ever had as Executive. Her press conferences were the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen in any politician. It's like she's 15 rather than 51 year old.
DeleteBoth are incompetent- and in politics for their own benefit.
DeleteThe thing is, the people who voted these dumbasses into office are the ones to blame. Stop the political affiliation and let the people just campaign on how they will govern. People just vote D or R because they hate either party. Then they bitch when their candidate is elected and then they find out they are incompetent.
DeleteThe IGT payment is definitively not based on your number of licensed beds. It’s based on the ma census from 2 years prior. There is a mechanism in the IGT if you’ve overpaid or underpaid in the current year, that will be capturedtwo years in the future with that igt payment. That can be a couple dollars worth of difference either way, or a couple million dollars. But it always equals out in the end. That’s how it works.
ReplyDeleteDoes career service in the entire county get 19 holidays or just Gracedale? Does the courthouse staff get paid when the county closes for a snow day? Doesn't seem fair.
ReplyDeleteAll Career Service get the extra Holidays, yes, the courthouse staff get paid to be closed on a snow day. Those that are Career Service at Gracedale do not get those snow days, they still have to be at work on time, even if the courts have a 2 hour delay, Career Service at Gracedale have to be there on time. Reasoning is because they work in a 24/7 operation. come again on what is fair?
DeleteWhy should the courthouse staff be paid for a snow day. They aren’t working. Use 1 of the 19 holidays. By the way what are the 5 other holidays?
DeleteIf a lower census number saves money, take that to extremes: Why is it open?
ReplyDeleteNothing against Tom and Kelly personally, but I can’t fathom the fact that Tom said they are looking into management companies to come in and help Gracedale. Isn’t that what the 2 of them they got hired to do??? A quarter mill a year in salaries for the 2 of them to push it off onto the next team. Meanwhile, Michelle is the reason Gracedale is in this whole mess and she’s just walking away. Wild.
ReplyDeleteIf they had done their homework and studied the years during Premier managing Gracedale, they would have seen that nursing management teams work.
DeleteCorrect. This is utter nonsense. The continuum of care people have no idea what to do so now we have to pay for a management company to come in to tell them what to do? Nonsense.
DeleteI am not blaming Tara for this budget. I’m blaming the Budget Director who lives in Pike County for this. He’s the one who is the acting Director of Fiscal. Only someone who’s not going to have to pay the tax would propose a 43.5% increase.
ReplyDeleteCmon, she was a controller, council person, now the executive. She was complicit knowing the fiscal concerns, the co mingling of funds, all of it.
DeleteShe’s the County Executive and she is accountable for it.
1:10: yeah, I get it, but the first thought that comes to my mind about Tara is not responsibility, financial or otherwise.
DeleteIf you are responsible for millions of tax payers dollars you should definitely have to live in the county. Just another example of someone making good money and not caring.
DeleteI think I have the solution to this problem that's been used by some very reputable and successful people: Gracedale Meme Coin! (Followed by a rugpull.)
ReplyDeleteSo, the Gracedale Compound, its buildings, its acres of land, its 911 center, its storage area for voting machines, its offices for county organizations, are all okay,
ReplyDeletebut the more important “ fiscal and operational responsibility “ under the County Executive and specific administrators, to ensure the residents, patients, short term patients of Gracedale Nursing Home that the facility lights stay on, bills are paid, professional employees are retained, and all funding, state or otherwise, is intact… has failed.
Oh, let’s not forget the DOH has a clock ticking for those same
administrators to “fix” the noted problems. Quite a mess.
There are so many things to say about this budget mess. First they aren't saving money with this change as the money isn't there to begin with. Playing with census to balance a budget is often seen and wrong or it is used to fund and move to other areas not budgeted as they would stand out at budget time. Im aware of the games played with a budget as I saw it for decades. But to budget for full census when the trend is far from that number is just incompetence. The second issue is selling beds. Last I heard they're not going for much money anymore. Second again downsize the beds to a manageable number that you can staff..sell or get rid of 250. Then there is the 401 positions not budgeted. Have a correct position file analysis and staff appropriately and get rid of the 401 unbudgeted positions. This was told to them when mcclure got in but of course not done. With all the benefit time and fmla a vacancy factor must be included in the actual final position file to assure coverage and decrease overtime cost and eliminate mandating except in emergencies like snow. As for career service management positions there was not a lot of extras when the building was at 90 percent. Staff on the floors always feel too much management and I would too seeing the massive agency numbers but those management positions are needed for compliance and regulatory duties, and many other things tgat floor staff dont even know they do. Overall this budget was obviously done with little knowledge and not caring about their situation or the taxpayers. So frustrating so many people making good money who are clueless and cant even prepare a budget
ReplyDeleteTara states moral has improved with the deputy sheriffs.
ReplyDeleteHow?
By giving them a 20% raise for 4 years on top of a 60000 starting pay and 5 extra days off.
Sheriffs are not police officers and shouldn’t be paid as such.
Plus she is willing to relinquish them of duties that they are required to do.
Someone stop the madness.
It pays to sleep with the head of HR
DeleteShe is the executive, she owns it. End of story !!!
ReplyDeleteThe buck stops with the Executive.
ReplyDeleteI'm a wealthy R who retired at 45, and the tax increase is obnoxious and unnecessary. But it's chump change to me in the larger scheme of things. I suspect my fellow Rs will survive and many Ds with lesser resources will lose homes at sheriff's sales. Good. You voted for this and I'll be there at the auction looking for bargains as you move out of one of my latest property acquisitions. The system works. It might even teach you a lesson in politics and economics. Vote blue! Mom needs a new Tesla!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the retire republicans who didn't vote for this?
DeleteTHIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
DeleteWill this council vote down the. Budget? Will they have well thought out viable alternatives to offer? Will Kraft even show up for the budget hearings? Stay tuned.
ReplyDelete"Will this council vote down the. Budget?"
DeleteThat's really not an option. Under the home rule charter, if the Council just rejects the Executive's budget, the Executive's budget goes into effect.
If we want a different budget, we must amend it line by line, it must be balanced, and it must survive line item vetoes.
"Will Kraft even show up for the budget hearings? Stay tuned."
President Kraft has been there for two of the three budget hearings so far. He's done an excellent job presiding over the budget hearings, in my opinion.
If Council votes down the budget, the one proposed by Zrinski is automatically adopted as per the Home Rule Charter. If it fails to act on the proposal, the budget proposed by the Exec becomes the budget. Council is also unable to interfere with the Exec's revenue projections. All of this is part of the Charter to avoid the possibility of going months without a budget, which is common on a state and federal level. It also guarantees a balanced budget. The power council has is to offer amendments. It may eliminate spending in some departments and thus reduce the need for a tax hike.
DeleteAs far as Kraft goes, he has presided over two budget hearings, but he has often skipped them completely when not in charge.
Kraft is an embarrassment!
Delete“When Keegan asked how much these holidays have cost the county, Zrinski 's response was, ‘What do you mean?’”
ReplyDeleteTells you everything you need to know. Does she think everything just goes into limbo on the holidays and the county incurs no costs? Maybe all county functions at Gracedale, the Gov’t Center, Emrick Blvd., etc. are just in suspended animation on those days?
Sell emrick put offices at gracedale save tons of money right there
Delete