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County reviews Valley facility finances, census and staffing; appeals payment boosts revenue
Summary
Orange County finance and facility officials presented December and January reports showing a $13.4 million IGT, a one‑time appeals payment of more than $500,000 from the state, low census and staffing pressures that contributed to an elevated number of resident deaths in recent months, and a new swallowing‑evaluation device to be used onsite.
Orange County finance and facility leaders presented December and January financial reports and operational updates for the county‑operated facility (referred to in the meeting as Valley/View/Valley Central facilities). The report noted an intergovernmental transfer (IGT) of $13,400,000 for the state fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, and other revenues listed at approximately $36,375,000. County staff said a year‑old appeal with the state Department of Health yielded more than $500,000 in revenue tied to historic reimbursement calculations and a universal settlement carve‑out.
January financials showed the county starting the year with a budget figure cited in the meeting as about $58,000,009.88 (staff read a multi‑part figure in the packet). For the first reporting period of 2025 the county reported roughly $3,315,466 in realized revenue, personal services expenses just under $1,700,000, contractual expenditures and encumbrances, and employee benefits at about $1,243,006. County staff said the indirect cost charge posted at a higher amount than budgeted and that some year‑end entries were still processing.
Commissioner Lawrence Leduche (referred to in the packet as the facility commissioner) reported that the facility census was 62.5 percent based on the underlying bed count metric discussed in the packet. For January the facility recorded 40 admissions (22 new admissions, 18 readmissions), 17 discharges to hospitals, nine discharges to home, one discharge to another facility, and 13 deaths in January — a spike staff described as unusually high across November, December and January.
Staff said the facility has experienced staffing shortages — particularly among LPNs — that have affected census and operations. Facility leadership purchased a fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing device (FEES machine) through an approved capital project; staff said the device will allow speech therapists to conduct swallowing evaluations on residents onsite beginning in March, reducing the need for hospital transfers.
The Legislature heard a request that facility staff share details of appeals and any additional pending appeals. Staff said the large appeals backlog tied to a universal settlement is mostly resolved and the county does not have many outstanding appeals in process. Commissioners asked about staff mental‑health supports after a period with many resident deaths; staff said the county offers an employee assistance program (EAP) that is available to employees.
