REEDSBURG, Wis. -- The Sauk County Board is looking to sell their county-owned assisted living facility the Sauk County Health Care Center in the coming months.
Sauk County has owned a nursing home facility since 1871. The 82-bed Sauk County Health Care Center was built in Reedsburg in 2008.
"Right now, we have a very fine building built in 2008, a five star Medicare-rated healthcare center, skilled nursing, and that's been serving our county residents very successfully," said Sauk County resident Judy Brey.
But despite it's success in patient care, county officials say it's costing the county and taxpayers too much. The facility's construction and operating costs are partially paid for by taxpayers in Sauk County. Although the county is just years away from paying off the construction loan for the facility, Sauk County Board President Tim McCumber says it's still hard to make the math work.
"We've been upside down for years, whether the loan goes away or not, it's been operating at a deficit," McCumber said. "If this were any other model, it's not sustainable. Unfortunately, we're not required to have a nursing home, and so it makes sense for us to put this into the hands of somebody who can run it better."
McCumber says county governments selling off their nursing homes isn't a new concept.
"I f you go to the WCA, the Wisconsin Counties Association, last August, there was an article called 'Sell the nursing home to save the nursing home,'" McCumber said. "This isn't a unique model."
In February, the Lincoln County Board voted to approve the sale of their county-owned facility Pine Crest Nursing Home. The Portage County Board is also currently in the process of selling their nursing home facility.
But some Sauk County residents worry the sale could only lead the facility to close.
"W hen long term care facilities are sold to private entities, the track record is very poor," Brey said. "W e are really concerned because as taxpayers, we built this facility. This is the right thing to do for our seniors, our disabled, our veterans. We know this is the right thing to do, and we are willing to foot the tax bill."
The County Board is currently looking at offers and hopes to find a buyer in the next few months.
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