Rest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation is facing financial problems.
The county-run nursing home has had to draw from the general fund to pay expenses in 2013 and will do so again this year.
In August 2013, the county loaned $500,000 to Rest Haven. That was repaid the first week of December, Paul Buber, county finance director, said Wednesday at the commissioners' meeting.
Due to continued cash flow problems, Buber said later that month that $500,000 was allocated to Rest Haven. Buber then cited slow third-party reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.
On Jan. 8, Buber said Rest Haven requested and was granted another $500,000 allocation.
"In the last 30 days, the general fund gave $1 million to Rest Haven in the form of allocations," Buber said. "Because of the allocations, their current cash balance is healthy, but Rest Haven has about $757,801.86 outstanding in terms of current bills to be paid to vendors as well as amounts owed to the general fund."
Buber said the facility is not generating enough revenue to cover expenses. He said about 135 of the 142 beds at the facility have been occupied, but it usually is not that high.
"There used to be a waiting list. Times have changed," Buber said.
Buber also provided information on all county allocations from the general fund to the facility since 2003. In 2004, $975,000 was allocated to Rest Haven. It was not until 2011 that the county contributed $300,000 and then another $355,415 in 2012.
"Obviously, we are really paying attention to it because it's getting to the point where it's a major budget item and we need to pay attention to what's going on there," commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said. "Over the last two or three years, the facility is costing us more than anticipated. The facility has not been at capacity for quite some time, but we are hearing that's pretty much the same with other county facilities in the commonwealth. Why that is, I really don't know."
At the end of December 2013, the county general fund was at $12,919,912.70.
Also at the commissioners' meeting, the board awarded three demolition contracts.
Madonna Enterprises Inc., Port Carbon, was awarded the demolition of 227 E. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville, for $17,280, and 58 and 60 E. Main St., Tremont, for $37,439. Northeast Industrial Services Corp., Shamokin, was awarded the demolition of 292 S. Third St., Coaldale.
The salary board set the salary of attorney Christopher Hobbs, who was appointed to the part-time assistant county solicitor position left vacant by newly-elect District Attorney Christine Holman. His salary was set at $30,536.95, the same Holman was making in the position, county solicitor Al Marshall said.
The retirement board met immediately following the public meeting. According to the controller's report, the retirement fund had a fair market value of $121,762,677 at the end of the month. As of Wednesday, the fund was at $121,807,212.11.
The commissioners also issued two proclamations Wednesday.
The first proclamation endorses the Schuylkill County Mental Health and Developmental Services, Drug and Alcohol programs and other county organizations involved in the homeless point-in-time count on Jan. 29. Various human services agencies, nonprofit organizations, churches and other groups will join the county for the second annual count to bring awareness and provide services to the homeless.
The other proclamation recognized Schuylkill County's Retired Senior Volunteer Program and its 30 years of service that consisted of 1.58 million hours of volunteer services throughout the county.