Nursing home leaders seek realistic payroll assumptions as committee weighs projects and levies

The county nursing home director told the finance committee the facility is operating at about 64 residents because staffing limits prevent increasing census to the 70‑bed target. ‘‘We would need at least three full‑time nurses’’ to reach higher census levels, the director said, explaining the current reliance on contract nurses and overtime to fill shifts.

Committee members questioned payroll assumptions and suggested budgeting less than 100% payroll if contracted staff will continue to be used; one proposal was to budget payroll at about 80% while reducing outside contractual expenses correspondingly as hiring permits. The director said that while outside help could be reduced as staff are hired, doing so too aggressively risks falling short of required staffing and paying more in overtime or contract costs.

Members also reviewed capital and maintenance requests — including building repairs, vehicle and equipment lines — and asked the nursing home to provide a detailed list of proposed projects (site/permit work estimated at about $175,000 was noted) so the committee can recompute net cash‑use scenarios. The committee noted the nursing home has a cash balance a little over $3 million and that projects could draw down that balance if approved.

Next steps: Nursing home staff will return with a prioritized projects list at the committee’s next meeting; the committee tentatively agreed to reduce payroll assumptions and asked staff to model payroll/contract mixes before final levy decisions.