LaSalle Countys Finance and TIF Committee heard detailed updates on the county nursing homes interim staffing costs and continued efforts to hire a permanent director at its Jan. 12 meeting.

Chair Tina Bush said the committee is closely tracking the nursing home budget and asked staff to keep monitoring interim costs, adding, "I just wanna make sure that we keep on top of the nursing home budget because I'm afraid it's gonna get out of control before we dug." County staff reported that agency nurses have cost the county $41,380 since Dec. 1 and interim administrator pay to date is $23,718 — a combined total of roughly $65,000 so far.

Committee members confirmed the "extra help" for nursing-home staffing had been anticipated in a professional services line and that the interim arrangement was budgeted for about four months. The committee was also told the salary for the permanent director position was recently increased to improve recruitment.

Members raised a separate question about a recent state fine tied to the nursing home. One committee member identified the penalty as about $17,500 and a county representative said the amount appeared to stem from a prior-year compliance issue related to required RN/LPN/CNA staffing ratios on the floor. That staffing-ratio explanation was presented as the likely cause of the fine.

Insurance coverage was discussed: committee members said the countys insurance trust pays the first $50,000 for relevant liabilities; the committee requested that staff obtain a precise cost figure from the insurance trust so the county can track total exposure.

No formal policy action or vote on the nursing-home staffing plan occurred; the committee approved routine minutes and bills and asked staff to continue recruitment and budget monitoring. Outside auditors are scheduled for final field work the week of Feb. 8, and the county plans continued oversight of interim staffing costs.

What happens next: staff will seek a detailed cost estimate from the insurance trust, continue recruitment efforts for a permanent director, and report back to the committee as the county receives additional invoices and insurance information.