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2-mill Levy Seen Sufficient For New Care Facility

2-mill Levy Seen Sufficient For New Care Facility image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
May
Year
1971
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OCR Text

If Washtenaw County residents are asked to finance construction of a new medical care facility, it will probably take an additional two milis for a single year, a county commissioner said yes6Cmsr. James Cregar of Ypsüanti told his fellow members of the Board of Commissioners' Administration a n d Taxation Committee that even though the size of a possible new facility has not yet been determined, the two milis would produce about $2.6 million, which should be enough for a 125-bed extended care unit. . . rrpoar is one of the commissioners v7 LeC7ospearheading a study of the possibility of construction of a new facility to replace the 54-year-old structure which will close next month. The present facility, at Washtenaw and Platt, has lost its certification from the state and will cease operations June 11. A report on whether or not to seek millage íor a new facility is expected to be completed in the near future, possibly during June. If the commissioners decide to place the issue on the ballot ït will be the second time in five years. In 1966 a bonding proposal to build a $4 million, 175-bed unit was defeated 21,000 to 13,000. And while the commissioners have not yet agrëed on the size of a new building, I Cregar indicated consideration might be ■ given to placing the issue on the ballot ■ next November. He said this would be a I definite possibility if the state 1 ture decides to hold an election on 1 stitutional amendment propositions. I The first-term commissioner also said I consideration should be given to building a new facility in cooperation with an adjoining county. A two-county care facility could be larger and might be constructed at less cost per bed, he said. County Administrator K. Ross Cnilds said because of the extended care facility situations in most adjoining counties, joint construction would probably only be possible with Monroe County or Livingston County. If the suggested two milis is not enough to build a new facility for only Washtenaw, Cregar said he understands the county also has to option of levying an additional one-tenth of a mili without voter approval to finish the project. Childs, however, suggested the committee should check on this to make sure it could be done. Cregar also alerted the committee to I possible arguments which may be thrown against the millage issue if the county puts the question on the ballot. One of the strongest arguments he said he could foresee is that Washtenaw ently has a surplus of nursing home beds. To counter this.'he said the county must look at least 10 years ahead, and the increasing population of the county could wipe out this surplus rapidly. He also pointed out that costs for patients staying in private homes will continue rising to keep pace with the rising medical costs. This could result in many persons being unable to afford private homes, and in the private homes cutting the quality of service in order to make a profit, he said. Committee member David R. Byrd of Ann Arbor warned that before the county asks the votérs to approve any millaee. it should set forth to the public all the building needs. He pointed out that I the county will also need voter approval ■ for construction of a new jail, and that ■ a fourth Circuit Court will be needed by I 1973. Administrator Childs said another I option facing the county is proposing an I overall capital improvements budget in I connection with additional millage. Such I a program would outline the needs ot I the county for five or 10 years in I advance, and then the county would seek millage to meet these needs. Cimas said this method would avoid the "piecemeal" system of going to the voters withseveral individual building proposals.

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Ann Arbor News
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