Posted by Jason Ibrahim
In a story aired Friday by WTAJ, Cambria County's economic planners boldly reasserted their intent to stay in the nursing home business with Laurel Crest. This is in sharp contrast with Blair County's Tomassetti, et al, who are still deciding how best to nurse the ailing Valley View Home back to fiscal health.
WTAJ's Sean Dreher notes that Cambria's Commissioners "said they are still committed to serving the county's elderly", but I wonder if there's any possibility that selling off the home would be the best act of service. It's true that the President Commissioner P.J. Stevens assures us the residents "would have difficulty receiving care in a private facility", but there are a couple reasons I'm skeptical:
- Remember that Stevens is not just wearing his "county commissioner" hat at this time, but also fighting for the county's cashflow. As Dreher reminds us, "Every additional resident means more revenue for the county."
- The commissioners have shown an inability to run this business thus far. Much about this story suggests the commissioners have an unhealthy streak of idealism in them. Namely, the need to "apply for a $6 million loan just to stay in the black" that has apparently not tempered Commissioner Gjurich's unrestrained enthusiasm for the current management; and the hoped-for 28% increase in population that (presumably) will act as a shot in the arm for the anemic healthcare provider.
- As with all government forays into industry, while private businesses are subject to the laws of sink or swim, it's virtually impossible to punish mismanagement in a publicly-held property like Laurel Crest. It's true that the commissioners are elected officials, but seriously, this is Jack Murtha country: will enough people remember this issue when Election Day comes around?
Now you know my opinion. What do you think?
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2 comments:
Here in Blair County, the County government is struggling to make up enormous budget deficits -- what is the issue with our counties? I hear many cities are in bad shape too, though the City of Altoona doesn't seem to be quite as bad off right now.
- Lynn
Lynn,
I don’t claim to have all (or any of) the answers, but I wonder if the issue comes down to one word—vigilance. That is, the insistence on the part of public to keep tabs on what their elected officials are doing, and holding their feet to the fire when they misstep. I can’t realistically see government getting permanently smaller, at least on a large scale, but that may be the solution on a local or regional level, and minimally it’s a way to dig our heels in and stall the inevitable. I think John Eichelberger’s election in 2006 was a great example of the public holding their officials accountable.
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