BUTLER TWP — Butler County officials hope the second time's the charm when union workers from Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center vote Monday on a revised contract offer.

Sunnyview workers in December rejected previous offers covering about 200 employees. Other county workers simultaneously rejected four other offers impacting another 300 workers.

County and Sunnyview officials are optimistic workers will approve the latest proposal, which was made with the help of a state-appointed mediator.

"I hope we come to an agreement very shortly," Dr. William DiCuccio, Sunnyview executive and medical director, said at Thursday's board meeting.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, board chairman, assured union workers in attendance an approval of the proposed contract would lead to the county's blessing.

"If you guys vote yes, I think we would be favorable to it," he said.

Pinkerton said the proposal addresses workers' outstanding concerns, which include such issues as work scheduling and possible layoffs.

Representatives from the Service Employees International Union maintain salary and health care contributions are not sticking points.

Kevin Hefty, SEIU's vice president of long term health care, said in a phone message the union won't comment about this latest offer until Monday.

The county's nonunion employees this year receive a 2 percent pay hike and have 1.5 percent salary deductions from paychecks to pay a portion of their health care benefits.

County solicitor Julie Graham said none of the four other bargaining units, which include sheriff's deputies and courthouse workers, have votes scheduled.

The last agreements for all five groups ended Nov. 30.

Until new pacts are signed, those workers fall under the terms of the expired contracts. They don't receive a pay increase, but don't have to pay a portion of their health care costs.

However, the longer new agreements remain unsigned, the greater the impact on the county budget.

The commissioners on Dec. 31 passed a $186 million budget that will have a $500,00 deficit if the 500 workers don't pay the 1.5 percent health care contribution.

County officials previously said cuts will have to be made to the 2009 budget without new agreements in place by the end of March.