The Butler County commissioners' decision to ponder the future of Sunnyview Home is an appropriate move at this time, if the county leaders are serious about trying to cut government costs in the wake of another tax increase.

With costs continuing to rise within the county government and property owners saddled with an additional 3 mills of tax this year - the third tax increase in five years - Sunnyview merits as much scrutiny as any other part of the county's operations, especially since the home experienced operating losses of $1.6 million in

2003 and nearly $1.7 million in 2004

.

Beyond that, bids for a planned renovation project at the home, for which the commissioners borrowed $1.3 million but budgeted $2.7 million, came in at $3.1 million. While the commissioners rejected those bids, directing that the project be reworked to bring it in line with budgeted funds - and the commissioners are considering more borrowing for the nursing home project - a deeper issue is whether the county should remain in the nursing home business.

Some other counties have sold their nursing homes to private operators because of skyrocketing expenses and the headache of keeping the homes in compliance with state regulations.

Similar action here might become necessary if it is concluded that Sunnyview will continue to be an excessive financial burden, partly because not all of its 240 beds are filled.

If the commissioners are leaning toward selling the home, a logical question might be whether the county should be doling out millions of dollars to renovate a facility from which it plans to divorce itself. A rethinking about the scope of the renovation would be logical even if the county were to turn over the home's management once again to a private company - an arrangement under which the home operated, beginning in 1992, before the county resumed management eight years later.

Although the commissioners' plan to take a hard look at Sunnyview's future no doubt has triggered anxiety in some residents of the home and their families, those people should try to gain comfort in the fact that it is not the intent of the commissioners to cause inconvenience or suffering for residents in any way.

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the commissioners can't just give lip service to cutting costs over the full extent of county operations. They must be able to provide evidence of success in cutting costs - and that must happen prior to 2006 budget preparation.

The commissioners are considering hiring a consultant to help them decide which option to pursue regarding the home's future. Even if they do, the commissioners should also personally get in touch with officials of some of the counties in Pennsylvania that have already addressed their nursing home issue - to discuss the human side of the decision as well as the business aspect.

"We're in the very early stages of looking into this (the home's future)," said commissioners Chairman Scott Lowe. "But we need to make decisions now to stave off losses in the future."

County taxpayers are compassionate toward those who need the home's services, but the quality of service provided under the Butler County umbrella is capable of being provided by others of similar dedication, without burdening the county's coffers and the taxpayers' wallets and pocketbooks.

If the county does eventually choose to sell the home, it must seek an owner with an excellent reputation and quality of service.

But first, the commissioners have much study before them.

The commissioners can be judged remiss for not engaging in that important exercise before embarking on the planning for the renovation project and incurring the expenses tied to that planning.

- J.R.K.