Post Messenger Recorder -

Dear Editor,

Green County citizens have a long history of providing care and services for individuals in need. The Pleasant View Complex has been a fixture in Green County for over 100 years, providing care and services necessary to residents of the community, county and surrounding area.

To continue that long-standing commitment to provide housing and care for those individuals who no longer can live safely in their homes, a referendum question will be included on the November 6th ballot. Voters will be asked for their support in authorizing the county for an increase in the levy limit for the purpose of paying a portion of the cost of operating and making capital improvements at Pleasant View Nursing Home.

The amount requested is continuing at the current rate of up to $790,000 per year for six years (2019-2024). This is the same rate since 2015, and would not increase current property taxes. Based on the equalized value, the tax for Pleasant View would be $0.264 per thousands of equalized valuation. For example, equalized property valued at $100,000 would result in an annual tax amount average of $26.40, or $2.20 per month.

Pleasant View Nursing Home is asking for funding from the tax levy to help offset the deficits in Medicaid payments. For example, the average cost of care for a Medicaid resident living at Pleasant View is approximately $249 per day. Medicaid pays only $175 per day for the care received, resulting in a $74 per day loss.

Services for 65% of the residents at Pleasant View Nursing Home are paid for by the Medicaid program. Based on a 110 daily resident census, that would result in approximately a $5,254.00 loss to Pleasant View per day. According to statistics compiled, on average the annual loss to a Wisconsin nursing home that provides care for Medicaid residents is around $1,461,000.00.

Sincerely,

Cynthia L. Miller,

Monroe